Pirates Tabbed Potential Landing Spot for Former All-Star Yandy Díaz

Most of the conversation surrounding the Pittsburgh Pirates leading up to the trade deadline has been regarding outfielders, but general manager Ben Cherington could seek to upgrade the offense in other areas.

According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the Pirates are a potential landing spot for Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Díaz. Feinsand lists the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners as other possibilities.

The Rays are expected to listen on Yandy Diaz. Per sources, the Astros, Mariners and Pirates are potential landing spots.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 26, 2024

Díaz, who turns 33 early next month, has played 94 games for the Rays this season and is batting .273 with a .726 OPS, 21 doubles, eight home runs and 46 RBIs. While the overall numbers are good but not spectacular, Díaz brushed off a slow start to the season and has been rolling since the calendar flipped to June. In 37 games since June 1, Díaz is batting .315 with an .817 OPS.

Díaz has feasted on left-handing pitching this season and could serve as a platoon partner with Rowdy Tellez at first base. Against southpaws this season, the right-handed hitting Díaz has an .879 OPS compared to a .678 OPS against righties. Though he’s struggled against right-handers this season, he carries a respectable .769 OPS against them in his career.

In eight seasons for his career, Díaz carries a .288/.374/.432 slash across 703 games.

His best season came last year, when he won the American League batting title with a .330 average. Additionally, he slugged a career-high 22 homers, drove in 78 runs, was named an All-Star for the first time and finished sixth in the MVP race.

If the Pirates were to land Díaz, they would have control over him through the 2026 season if they chose. He’s set to earn $10 million in 2025 and has a $12 million club option for 2026. While Tellez is under contract only through the rest of this season, Díaz could help the Pirates at first base for the next couple years.

While the Pirates do make sense as a possible landing spot, both the Astros and Mariners — and presumably others — might have a more pressing need.

The Astros rank dead last in baseball in OPS from their first baseman and the Mariners need help in their lineup with first base specifically an area of need.

The Mariners and Rays have been frequent trade partners and have already swung one deal leading up to the deadline. Early Friday morning, Seattle acquired outfielder Randy Arozarena from the Rays in exchange for a pair of prospects and a player to be named later.