MLB Rumors: The Texas Rangers are signing free agent catcher Elias Diaz, per multiple reports.
Diaz, 35, has been with the Kansas City Royals this season before being released earlier this week. He has spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies. In 2025 he was with the San Diego Padres, slashing .204/.270/.337 in 283 plate appearances over 106 games.
The Rangers have an open 40 man roster spot due to Sam Haggerty being designated for assignment yesterday. The speculation is that Danny Jansen could be headed to the injured list. The Rangers don’t have another catcher on their 40 man roster aside from Jansen and Kyle Higashioka, and none of their AAA catchers are guys you’d feel comfortable using in a regular backup catcher role in the big leagues.
After starting the year in AAA, Diaz had slashed .227/.261/.591 in 23 plate appearances over 10 games for the Royals after being added to their major league roster. Diaz came up to be the Royals’ third catcher due to concerns about Salvador Perez’s health, but was dropped in favor of Tyler Tolbert last in late May.
