Yandy Diaz was traded away from Cleveland so way back that they have been nonetheless often called the Indians when he wore their uniform.
Since then, he has blossomed right into a star for the Tampa Bay Rays, a muscular leadoff hitter who will now oppose Cleveland within the 2026 ALCS.
There might be a lot made throughout the sequence about the truth that the Guardians as soon as traded Junior Caminero to the Rays — however that was when he was nonetheless an adolescent that hadn’t even performed stateside but.
Diaz, although, had made it to the most important leagues with Cleveland earlier than he was traded to Tampa Bay. He by no means realized his potential at Progressive Discipline, however he positive has at Tropicana Discipline.
Guardians-Rays Yandy Diaz Commerce
The Guardians traded Diaz means again in December 2018 — again when it was the then-Indians making the cope with the Rays.
It was a part of a three-team deal that concerned Cleveland, Tampa Bay and Seattle
The Rays bought Diaz and minor league pitcher Cole Sulser within the deal.
The Mariners acquired Edwin Encarnacion from Cleveland.
And the then-Indians picked up Jake Bauers from Tampa Bay and Carlos Santana from Seattle, giving themselves a number of generations of first basemen.
Satirically, Cleveland gave up on Bauers not lengthy after, and he’s now the cleanup hitter for the NLCS-competing Milwaukee Brewers.
Why Cleveland Traded Yandy Diaz
Diaz had performed 88 video games throughout two seasons with Cleveland, and it was clear he had bat-to-ball expertise. He hit .283 in that point. However he had only a .366 slugging share, as a result of most of his hits have been singles, and he had only one house run.
The muscle tissue on Diaz’s body hid a key truth: He hit the ball on the bottom a ton. Yeah, he hit it laborious, however a floor ball received’t go over the fence.
Cleveland hasn’t developed hitters nice in recent times, they usually apparently felt that Diaz was who he was — a minimum of to the extent that they most well-liked the Bauers plus Santana bundle in comparison with him.
Diaz then blossomed in Tampa Bay, although. He hit 14 house runs in his first season with the Rays.
He has since hit a minimum of 22 homers in three of the final 4 seasons, and he has additionally topped .300 thrice with Tampa Bay, together with a league-leading .330 batting common in 2023.
Diaz has by no means struck out 100 instances in a season. He’s one of the naturally expert hitters within the recreation.
And if Cleveland thought he’d by no means develop into extra energy, they have been improper. They’ll should take care of all his means within the ALCS.
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