Royals designate former All-Star catcher for assignment before Mariners game

The Kansas City Royals began May on a high, sweeping the Seattle Mariners on the road and taking the first two of a four-game series against the two-time defending American League Central champion Cleveland Guardians, but this month has quickly turned catastrophic. Despite residing in the shockingly weak Junior Circuit, KC (20-30) is in a time of crisis. Management is looking for some kind of jolt, and the end result is Elias Diaz’s departure.

The Royals are designating the 35-year-old catcher for assignment and recalling speedy utility man Tyler Tolbert, per the team. Diaz posted a .227 batting average, .261 on-base percentage, .591 slugging percentage and .852 OPS with two home runs and five RBIs in 10 games. He hit a two-run home run against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday and is wielding impressive power through 24 plate appearances, so this move is a tad surprising.

Kansas City already has two catchers on the roster, however. Franchise great Salvador Perez and former third-round draft pick Carter Jensen can man home-plate duties, and the team obviously thinks it could use more athleticism on the MLB roster. Diaz, a former All-Star Game MVP who also played for the Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates, should be able to latch onto another team amid his impending KC exit.

Tyler Tolbert was sent down to Triple-A Omaha on April 19 to make room for Elias Diaz, but the Royals clearly did not forget about him. He is slashing .273/.311/.364/.675 in 55 big-league at-bats. The 22 stolen bases in 71 games is the statistic that really jumps off the page.

Since the squad has been unable to win in conventional fashion for much of the last two weeks, it may need to rely on small-ball tactics to steal victories. Perhaps Tolbert can help out in that regard.

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