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Royals Sign Former All-Star Catcher Elias Díaz to Minor-League Deal

The 35-year-old is expected to join big-league camp to vie for a backup job behind Salvador Pérez.

Overview

  • Díaz is expected to report to camp next week to compete for an Opening Day roster spot behind starter Salvador Pérez and top prospect Carter Jensen.
  • He spent 2025 with the Padres, appearing in 106 games and batting .204/.270/.337 with nine home runs.
  • The Venezuelan catcher was a 2023 All-Star with the Rockies after hitting .267/.316/.409, following a career-high 18 homers in 2021.
  • Reports emphasize his defense, citing one of MLB’s quicker pop times, a 23% caught-stealing rate last year, and strong blocking and framing metrics.
  • Kansas City has also signed veterans Jorge Alfaro and Luke Maile, creating added competition for the backup catcher role.