A day after signing free agent Carlos Santana, the Pittsburgh Pirates cleared a spot on the 40-man roster by designating another first baseman, Lewin Diaz, for assignment on Wednesday.
The Pirates claimed Diaz off waivers from the Miami Marlins on Nov. 22 but the trade with Tampa Bay for Ji-Man Choi and the signing of Santana to a one-year, $6.725-million contract made Diaz the odd man out at the position. The 40-man roster is now at 40.
Diaz, 26, is a 6-foot-4, 217-pounder from the Dominican Republic who has a .181/.227/.340 slash line with 13 home runs and 27 RBIs in 112 games over three major-league seasons. Diaz slashed .169/.224/.288 with four doubles, five homers and 11 RBIs in 58 games in three stints with the Marlins last season. He split time between the Marlins and Triple-A Jacksonville, where he batted .252 with 19 home runs and 64 RBIs in 82 games.
To make room for Diaz on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated infielder/outfielder Hoy Park for assignment. They traded Park to the Boston Red Sox for 18-year-old left-handed pitcher Inmer Lobo.
