The MLB trade deadline isn’t until July 30th, but the landscape of buyers and sellers is taking shape. If the Colorado Rockies were to make trades, it would likely come in the form of he latter. They are 22-40, 16 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
The Rockies would be better served dishing off their better players for picks or prospects. One of those players would be catcher Elias Diaz, who Colorado could trade to a team like the Chicago Cubs or San Diego Padres.
Diaz has been outstanding with his bat at a position where premier hitting is hard to come by. Diaz ranks fourth among catchers in batting average (.302) behind only William Contreras, Salvador Perez, and Adley Rutschman. He’s also fourth at the position in on base percentage (.350), seventh in slugging (.444), and sixth in OPS (.794).
However, he’s toiling on a team at the bottom of the league. Diaz can help a playoff contender or a team looking to fight its way in.
Cubs trade for Elias Diaz
The Cubs are simply not getting anything out of their catcher spot this season. Miguel Amaya entered this year with some promise and potential, but he’s posted a slashing line of .194/.255/.274/.530 in 43 games played. Yan Gomes is also with the team, but his numbers have taken a drastic step backwards in 2024 compared to what he did in 2023.
With the Cubs in the thick of the playoff race, they are looking to make an upgrade at that position. The Cubs and Rockies have engaged in trade talks for Diaz, via Chicago radio host Dave Kaplan. It remains to be seen what the package for Diaz would include. It shouldn’t cost the Cubs an exorbitant amount with Diaz on the last year of his contract.
