Guardians surprise acquisition of All-Star catcher could aid playoff push

The Cleveland Guardians, winners of five straight, have their eyes firmly set on an American League Central crown.

Cleveland's offense has been solid all season, ranking 12th in runs scored in Major League Baseball. However, every playoff push can use added firepower, and the Guardians currently have the opportunity to upgrade at a position of need.

With a combination of Bo Naylor, Austin Hedges, and David Fry behind the dish, the Guardians haven't been able to find offense from the catching position. Naylor, the presumed starter in waiting, has been a disappointment, while Hedges is essentially an extra coach on the roster.

On Wednesday night, an All-Star catcher surprisingly became available for any team to claim. And the Guardians could well benefit from his services.

Elias Díaz, the 2023 All-Star Game MVP, was placed on outright waivers by the Colorado Rockies. After the last-place Rockies neglected to trade Díaz at either of the past two trade deadlines, they now stand to lose him for nothing but salary relief.

Díaz, 33, had a strong offensive start to the season before cratering in July. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that his mid-year slump contributed to his staying in Colorado after the trade deadline.

"While some rival officials believe the Rockies could have moved Díaz, sources briefed on the team’s discussions say no club expressed a significant desire to add him," Rosenthal said.

Teams have until 1 p.m. ET on Friday to claim Díaz before he would have the option to become a free agent. The waiver wire prioritizes teams in reverse order of record, meaning nearly all other teams would need to pass on Díaz for Cleveland to get a shot at him.

Though Fry was an All-Star, Cleveland much prefers to play him in the outfield or at designated hitter, given his poor defensive metrics. Díaz is a bonafide catcher, and would fit in perfectly as a righty platoon partner for the left-handed hitting Naylor.

All told, the Guardians rank 26th in batting average, 24th in on-base percentage, and 22nd in OPS at the catching position. Among likely playoff teams, Cleveland's catchers have been far and away the least productive at the plate.

Díaz, when at his best, would be a noteworthy upgrade for the Guardians offensively. However, whether Cleveland wants to shake up the roster is a question for the front office.

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