Aledmys Diaz, one of the premier international free agents, continues to draw interest from multiple clubs this week, including the Cardinals who are likely to make the shortstop an offer after bringing him to camp on Wednesday for a workout according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Aledmys Diaz moving towards a decision
The Cuban infielder has been working out for clubs and is expected to make a decision shortly.
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Other teams engaging in talks with Diaz include the Giants, Blue Jays, Yankees, Braves, Phillies, and Mariners per Strauss. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca confirmed Diaz's workout with the Jays, but suggests that a deal between those two clubs isn't close. Diaz's glove is the topic of some debate, but his ability to get on base and hit for power in Cuba has teams taking note. His agent, Jamie Torres, says his client is looking for the best offer.
“We know he’s going to be in the major leagues. It’s only a matter of time. His preference in shortstop, but he’s played second and third and I’m sure he would be comfortable playing whatever position is necessary.”
It's not surprising that many of the teams most interested in Diaz are also many of the clubs that have been linked to Stephen Drew in recent weeks, indicating that Drew's suitors may be waiting on Diaz's decision before moving forward with their offers to Drew. Even if that's the case, Drew shouldn't be waiting too much longer for Diaz to choose a dance partner and should be able to make his own selection in the next couple of weeks.
The Yankees are the most obvious fit for Diaz considering the current and future state of their infield, but the Blue Jays have a hole at second and the Phillies feature an aging duo up the middle. Diaz could replace Derek Jeter in New York as soon as he retires while filling in at second or third if he’s ready during the 2014 season. The Giants, Cardinals, and Mariners don’t have an obvious spot for Diaz in the short run, but those kinds of problems tend to work themselves out over time, meaning that their interest is likely more than due diligence at this point. As is true with most situations involving free agent signings, the Yankees are the smart bet considering their resources and desperate situation in the infield.
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