ST. LOUIS -- With the stretch run approaching, the Padres bolstered their catching depth on Monday, agreeing to a Minor League deal with veteran backstop Elias Díaz, sources told MLB.com.
The club has not confirmed the deal.
D¨ªaz, 33, spent the past five seasons playing for the Rockies and was the MVP of the 2023 All-Star Game. However, Colorado released him earlier in the month, and after he cleared waivers, he agreed to a Minor League deal with San Diego.
The Padres boast a catching tandem of Kyle Higashioka and Luis Campusano, and that duo has mostly been serviceable this season. But D¨ªaz provides valuable depth in the event of an injury -- or if either of those two were to struggle significantly down the stretch. Because he signed prior to Sept. 1, D¨ªaz would be eligible for the postseason roster.
In 84 games with the Rockies this season, D¨ªaz was hitting .270 with a .693 OPS.