Pirates Trade Matt Diaz

Neil Huntington found a way to get something for Matt Diaz, pretty incredible.

Diaz has been shipped back to Atlanta for a player to be named later. That is better than outright losing him for nothing, and he certainly didn't do much to help the team this year.

After posting a .305/.353/.461 triple-slash line in five seasons with Atlanta, he hit .259/.303/.324 in Pittsburgh. That just doesn't make sense. We're already past the curious stage with these free agents the Pirates keep signing, none of them ever play well and they don't stay with the team past August. Lyle Overbay was the other absolutely worthless free agent signing of the Pirates this year, and in years past we have seen Craig Monroe, Eric Hinkse, Ramon Vasquez, Jeromy Burnitz, and a few others do absolutely nothing in a Pirate uniform after previously having successful major league careers. Is it that the players aren't motivated to try very hard in Pittsburgh? I don't know really see how that could be possible, since they should be auditioning for other teams as their deal have only been one-year contracts for the most part.

Whatever the reason, the Pirates just can't find a quality free agent. Diaz was probably the worst of the bunch, and it'll be interesting to see what he does in Atlanta. I wouldn't be surprised to see him go there, hit a home run in his first three games and have a very successful last month of the season and help the team in the playoffs, that'd just complete another losing season for the Pirates.

Anyways, Diaz's departure leaves room for the possible call up of Matt Hague, who has played extremely well in AAA this year and deserves a look. He will have to be added to the 40-man roster first, so it's not a sure thing that the Pirates will call him up, but there will be some new players on the roster come tomorrow when the rosters expand.

Matt Diaz is a great guy, and I have a lot of respect for him, but it's hard not to harbor some ill will towards him after he was completely worthless playing for the Pirates this year.