The Rockies and catcher Elias Díaz agreed to a three-year contract extension, the club said Thursday. For the first time in a decade, since Chris Iannetta's heyday, Colorado has a long-term, front-line catcher.
Díaz's new deal is worth $14.5 million in total, according to multiple reports. The Rockies bought out his final year of arbitration eligibility and two of his free-agent years. If Díaz plays out the length of his contract in Colorado, he will be the Rockies' first veteran catcher to field the position for at least five years since Iannetta between 2006-11.
Díaz arrived in Colorado in early 2020, after the Pirates declined to offer him a contract and the Rockies signed him to a minor-league deal. By 2021, he became their primary catcher, slashing .246/.310/.464 over 106 games. His 18 home runs were fourth-most among Rockies, after their catchers combined for just two home runs all season in 2020.
"It's a combination of the physical strength and the durability and the work capacity," Rockies manager Bud Black said of Díaz's ability to catch a majority of games. "And also mentally, to be able to withstand the rigors of catching and feel fresh and know that you're fine to play that many games. It's a mindset."
At the plate, Díaz finished about league average in 2021, measuring just below average by OPS+, according to Baseball Reference, and just above average by WRC+, marked by FanGraphs.
Díaz on Wednesday celebrated his 31st birthday in Denver and Rockies pitcher Germán Márquez brought him a cake.
(Photo: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images)
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