MATT DIAZ NEWS

2012 player preview: Matt Diaz

When the Braves acquired Matt Diaz from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the end of August, I was vehemently opposed to the move for several reasons.1) Fredi Gonzalez would feel inclined to start Diaz in right field over Jason Heyward when lefties were on the mound.2) Diaz's effectiveness against lefties in 2011 had dropped off to the point where he had no purpose on the team aside...
Via Chop-N-Change  |  1 day ago

The magic continues

It took a wacky shootout for the Bucs to finally pick up a victory in an American League ballpark. They were able to bust out the bats early and pitch juuust enough to hold on for the narrow win over Toronto, moving them ahead of Cincinnati into 3rd place and within 3 games of Milwaukee for first place. Who started the scoring, you say? How about Alex Presley? Fresh off the much...
Via Raise the Jolly Roger!  |  June 28, 2011

Alex Presley helps lead Pirates to victory in Toronto

Presley's HR in the 3rd was the 1st of his career. Final: Pirates 7, Blue Jays 6 WP: Kevin Correia (10-6) LP: Jo-Jo Reyes (3-7) SV: Joel Hanrahan (23) Alex Presley sure knows how to get on Pirates’ fans good side. He opened up the scoring in the 3rd inning with a 2-run homer to give the Bucs a 2-0 lead. They would stay ahead the remainder of the game. Kevin Correia picked up his...
Via North Side Notch  |  June 28, 2011

Matt Diaz Traded to Atlanta for PTBNL

The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded outfielder Matt Diaz to the Atlanta Braves for a player to be named later, according to a team press release.  Diaz played for the Braves from 2006-2010, before signing a two year, $4 M deal with the Pirates.  No word yet on the contract terms, but David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that the Braves will receive cash...
Via Pirates Prospects  |  August 31, 2011

Braves re-acquire OF Matt Diaz

The Atlanta Braves on Wednesday re-acquired outfielder Matt Diaz from the Pittsburgh Pirates, ESPN.com reported. The Braves also received cash considerations and will send a player to be named to the Pirates. Diaz, 33, played with the Braves from 2006-10 before signing a two-year, $4.25 million contract with the Pirates in the winter. He is owed $2 million next season. Diaz...
Via Pro Sports Daily  |  August 31, 2011

Pirates acquire RHP Cardenas in Diaz trade

The Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday acquired minor league righthander Eliecer Cardenas from the Atlanta Braves to complete last month's trade of Matt Diaz. On Aug. 31, the Braves acquired Diaz from the Pirates for cash considerations and a player to be named. That player is Cardenas, 23, a reliever who pitched in Single-A and Double-A this season. Cardenas began 2011 with...
Via Pro Sports Daily  |  September 21, 2011

Matt Diaz and the right-handed platoon

The Pirates signed Matt Diaz to be a platoon player. At first, the signing sent me off on a bit of a chicken-or-the-egg train: Can 105-loss teams have the luxury of platoon players? Or would 105-loss teams not be 105-loss teams if they knew how to effectively employ a platoon? That's clearly an unproductive line of thinking, but then I started to wonder about right-handed platoon...
Via Where Is Andy Van Slyke  |  February 04, 2011

Pirates Complete Matt Diaz Trade

The Pittsburgh Pirates have completed the Matt Diaz trade, acquiring right handed pitcher Eliecer Cardenas from the Atlanta Braves as the player to be named later. The 23-year-old Dominican native went 4-3 with seven saves and a 2.11 ERA in 45 minor league games this season, striking out 76 batters in 59.2 innings.  Cardenas finished the season with Lynchburg in the Carolina League...
Via Pirates Prospects  |  September 20, 2011

Braves Tried, But Can’t Quit Matt Diaz

The Atlanta Braves have been rumored with a desire to add a right-handed bench bat. Ironically, they made a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon bringing back fan favorite and great teammate, Matt Diaz. Diaz was non-tendered in the offseason as the Braves felt he would be too expensive through arbitration. Diaz had expressed that he would take what he made last...
Via Rant Sports  |  August 31, 2011

Pirates trade OF Diaz back to Braves

Outfielder Matt Diaz is returning to the Atlanta Braves after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named. The wild card-leading Braves also received cash considerations in the deal announced Wednesday, which was completed in time for 33-year-old Diaz to be eligible for the postseason roster. Diaz played the previous five seasons in Atlanta and was one of...
Via AP on Fox  |  August 31, 2011

Pirates Acquire P Eliecer Cardenas From Atlanta Braves

The Pittsburgh Pirates have officially received right-handed pitcher Eliecer Cardenas from the Atlanta Braves, completing the trade between the two teams last month that sent outfielder Matt Diaz back to Atlanta. Diaz was acquired for a “player to be named later,” and that player is Cardenas. Cardenas, 23, pitched in both AA and A+ this season. In 40 A+ appearances ...
Via Rant Sports  |  September 20, 2011

Pirates trade OF Matt Diaz back to Braves

PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded outfielder Matt Diaz back to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for...
Via Boston Herald Sports  |  August 31, 2011

Welcome Back, Matt Diaz

The Braves have worked out a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates to bring outfielder Matt Diaz back to Atlanta in exchange for a player to be named later.  MattyD hit .305 with the Braves from 2006-2010.  The Braves hope he can help out their dismal stats against left-handed pitching, where they currently rank last in average and OBP. Diaz is signed through 2012 and is owed $2 million...
Via BravesBlast  |  August 31, 2011

Pirates Trade Matt Diaz

Neil Huntington found a way to get something for Matt Diaz, pretty incredible. Diaz has been shipped back to Atlanta for a player to be named later. That is better than outright losing him for nothing, and he certainly didn't do much to help the team this year. After posting a .305/.353/.461 triple-slash line in five seasons with Atlanta, he hit .259/.303/.324 in Pittsburgh...
Via The "Mc" Effect  |  August 31, 2011

Matt Diaz Traded Back to the Braves

Welcome back, Matt Diaz. The Atlanta Braves sent a player to be named later to the Pittsburgh Pirates for outfielder Matt Diaz. The 33-year-old played for the Braves from 2006 through 2010. He signed with Pittsburgh last offseason. So far this season, Diaz has been a bust. He’s hitting .259 with no homers and 19 RBIs. Why did the Braves want him back? His ability to hit left...
Via The Fantasy Kickoff  |  August 31, 2011

Pirates Notebook: Diaz returns to Braves; Bowker joins Phillies

HOUSTON -- Last offseason, Pirates management identified then-free agent Matt Diaz as a player that could provide a veteran bat -- and veteran leadership -- to a young roster. Diaz signed a two-year contract with the Pirates, but he will not finish one year in Pittsburgh. The Pirates traded Diaz to the Atlanta Braves Wednesday for a player to be named later or cash.
Via Post-Gazette  |  September 01, 2011

The Electric Meter: Righties and lefties

In yesterday's Electric Meter, I set out to find the root of Charlie Morton's struggles over the last month. As it turned out, though, there wasn't much to see. Morton's pitches look the same, his peripherals look better, and the only thing that's different over the last month is the opponent's batting average on balls in play, which is something that'...
Via Where Is Andy Van Slyke  |  June 29, 2011

Diaz's arrival prompts lineup shakeup

Matt Diaz didn't always murder left-handed pitching. As a rookie, Diaz, a right-handed batter, hit .358 against righties.
Via Pittsburghlive.com  |  February 14, 2011

Braves acquire Matt Diaz from Pirates

The Atlanta Braves have acquired Matt Diaz and an undisclosed amount of cash from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named later, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Diaz signed a two-year, $4.25 million contract with the Pirates last winter so the Braves are responsible for about $300,000 for the remainder of the season and $2 million in 2012. Diaz previously spent 2006...
Via PRO Rumors  |  August 31, 2011

2012 player preview: Jose Constanza

Jose Constanza is a very polarizing figure among Braves fans. Some erroneously believe that he should have gotten more playing time down the stretch. Some correctly believe that all he can be is an extra outfielder due to his good speed and little else in his game. Constanza will go into camp competing for the fifth outfielder slot (yes, fifth outfielder....remember, Matt Diaz and...
Via Chop-N-Change  |  8 days ago

Diaz impressing following subpar April

Matt Diaz's batting average may still be recovering from a terrible April, but the production has been there lately for the corner outfielder. Placed in the cleanup spot for the third time this season on Thursday, Diaz entered the final game of a three-game series against the Blue Jays having batted .302 in his last 27 games. Since the start of May, he has hit .289.
Via mlb.com  |  June 30, 2011

Diaz knows, accepts his platoon role

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Matt Diaz doesn't expect to dazzle fans in his first season with the Pirates, but he does plan to earn their respect. "I guess the scouting report on me would probably be that I don't do anything that's going to wow you," he said. "But I bring it every day. I play hard."
Via Post-Gazette  |  March 08, 2011

Matt Diaz uses bubble gum for pinch-hit warmup

You have to like how Matt Diaz of the Pittsburgh Pirates wasted nothing in preparing for his pinch-hitting appearance Friday. Not only did he take several dry hacks in the on-deck circle — like anybody would coming off the bench — but he got in one live round by spitting out a considerable wad of gum and swinging at it. Matt Diaz will heretofore be known as "Mr. Perfect"! Did...
Via Big League Stew  |  April 01, 2011

Diaz, volunteers build playground for kids

Pirates outfielder Matt Diaz grabbed the megaphone, gathered the approximately 120 volunteers around the back of the Citrus Center Boys and Girls Club and put them to work.
Via mlb.com  |  March 15, 2011

Diaz's platoon splits flip-flop early on

Matt Diaz is hardly the only Pirates hitter who is less than pleased with his personal numbers this month. What's interesting for Diaz, though, is that his struggles have come particularly against left-handed pitching.
Via mlb.com  |  April 29, 2011
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