Could this outright finally give Díaz a fresh start? Detroit moved the right‑hander Yilber Díaz to Triple‑A Toledo, following his DFA on Monday as the club trimmed its 40‑player offseason roster.
After being claimed off waivers from Arizona in late June, Díaz split time between Toledo and the big‑league club. He logged four appearances for Detroit, surrendering four runs over 5 1⁄3 innings. Across three seasons he’s tallied 37 1⁄3 MLB innings with a 6.27 ERA, a 15.5% strikeout rate and an 11.9% walk rate.
The Venezuelan was once touted as a top starter prospect in Arizona’s thin farm system. Though his power is evident, a missing changeup and erratic command stalled his progress, prompting the D‑Backs to shift him to the bullpen in 2025. In my view, his ceiling remains high despite the struggles; he posted 54 Triple‑A innings at a 3.50 ERA with a 28% strikeout rate but an unsustainable 15% walk rate.
This marks the first time Díaz has cleared waivers. He’ll stay in Detroit’s system and is likely to receive a non‑roster invite to Spring Training. With his minor‑league options exhausted, can he earn a roster spot next spring?