Rockies sign minor league deals for Diaz, Saunders

(Photo credit: MLB.com)

According to the Denver Post, Jairo Diaz and Michael Saunders have signed minor league deals with the Colorado Rockies.

Diaz, a right-handed reliever posted a 1-1 record and a 5.84 ERA with three Rockies' minor league affiliates in 2018. He recorded 11 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings pitched in 13 games. His opponent batting average was .182.

He last pitched in the Major Leagues in 2017 with the Rockies where in four games he had a 0-0 record, 9.00 ERA in 5 innings pitched. His opponent batting average was .500 in which he gave up 12 hits and only recorded two strikeouts.

Diaz made his big-league debut in 2014 with the Los Angeles Angels in which he had a 3.18 ERA in 5 2/3 innings pitched in 5 games.

The right-handed reliever had his best major league season in 2015 with the Rockies in which he posted a 2.37 ERA in 19 innings pitched in 21 games.

Diaz's career major league statistics are the following: 30 games, 0 wins ,1 loss, 3.64 ERA, 29 2/3 innings pitched, 14 bases on balls (walks), 28 strikeouts, .276 opponent batting average, 1.55 WHIP, 7 holds.

His career minor league statistics (2010-2018) are the following: 241 games, 22 wins, 34 losses, 5.28 ERA, 455 innings pitched, 190 bases on balls (walks), 403 strikeouts, .281 opponent batting average, 1.52 WHIP, 22 holds and 37 saves.

He elected free-agency on November 2nd, 2018. According to Wikipedia, Diaz signed his contract on December 21st, 2018. There are no plans for Diaz to be invited by the Rockies to Major League Spring Training.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

Saunders, a hitter, most known for his time at the major-league level with the Seattle Mariners from 2009 through 2014, was a part of four major league organizations at the minor league level in 2018.

Those organizations were the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox.

In 38 minor league games in 2018, Saunders had a batting average of .158 with 2 home runs, 18 RBI's and 15 runs scored. He walked 21 times, had 33 strikeouts and stole just two bases.

The last time the left-handed hitting outfielder was in the major leagues, in 2017, he hit 6 homers, had 21 RBI's, 26 runs scored in 73 games.

He posted a .205 batting average and a .360 slugging percentage in 61 games with the Philadelphia Phillies to start 2017. After he was released by the Phillies, his batting average and slugging percentage was .167 in 12 games with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The 32-year-young Saunders also played for the Blue Jays in 2015 and 2016 in which he made the American League All-Star team in 2016 and popped a career-high 24 home runs.

His career major league statistics are the following: 570 hits, 81 home runs, 263 RBI's, 324 runs, .232 batting average, .305 on-base percentage, .397 slugging percentage, .701 on-base plus slugging percentage, 255 bases on balls (walks, 711 strikeouts, 55 stolen bases and 23 times caught stealing.

The Charlotte Knights (White Sox Triple-A affiliate) released him on June 21st, 2018. According to Wikipedia, Saunders signed his current contract with the Rockies on December 30th, 2018. Reports indicate the Rockies plan to invite him to Major League Spring Training next month.