Rox agree with catcher, reliever on '21 deals
DENVER -- The Rockies avoided arbitration by agreeing to one-year contracts with catcher Elias Díaz and right-handed pitcher Jairo Díaz on Tuesday.
Elias Díaz agreed to a $1.2 million deal for next season, with another $300,000 available in incentives, Major League sources said. Jairo Díaz will earn $1.1 million, the sources said.
The deals came one day before Wednesday’s deadline to tender contracts to players eligible for salary arbitration.
Elias Díaz, 30, batted .235 with two homers and nine RBIs in 73 plate appearances over 26 games for the Rockies last season. He has appeared in 276 games over six seasons with the Pirates (2015-19) and the Rockies, and batted .248 with 15 home runs and 91 RBIs. The season ended with him receiving most of the starts, as opposed to Tony Wolters, who had been the starter for two seasons. Wolters is eligible for arbitration.
Jairo Díaz went 1-2 with a 7.65 ERA and four saves in 24 appearances last season. He gave up no runs in his first five appearances and had a 1.35 ERA through seven, but he struggled as the season progressed. He finished with 17 strikeouts and 14 walks in 20 innings pitched -- after striking out 63 and walking 19 in 57 2/3 innings in 2019. The Rockies count on him to rebound and help a bullpen that struggled overall in ’20.