San Diego Padres Sign All-Star Catcher

The San Diego Padres were in trade talks to try to acquire a veteran starting catcher, but in the end, they have decided to re-sign 2023 All-Star Elias Diaz.

The Padres find their veteran catcher, signing Elias Díaz to 1-year, $3.5 million contract, per @DanielAlvarezEE
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 28, 2025

It's a one-year, $ 3.5 million deal and includes a mutual option for 2026.

Diaz finished the 2024 season with San Diego, though batted just .190 in 12 games for them. He did rap out a few extra base hits, leaving him with a .720 OPS and a 99 OPS+. He spent most of the season with the Colorado Rockies, where he batted .270 with a .693 OPS.

The year before, in 2023, Diaz appeared in the All-Star game, after a tremendous first half in Colorado, which saw him bat .277 with a .763 OPS and nine of his 14 home runs. He played 141 games that season.

The 34-year-old will try to bounce back to that '23 form as he returns to the Padres, to share catching duties with Luis Campusano, who got off to a fine start to his 2024 season, batting .278 with a remarkable 17 RBIs in April. He dropped off significantly from there, and strangely, fared much better against right-handers, his same-side platoon.

Over his 10-year career, Diaz has hit .251 with a .692 OPS and an 82 OPS+.

We can assume that the Padres will no longer be pursuing their trade talks with the Minnesota Twins for another veteran backstop.