Jonathan Diaz re-signs with Toronto Blue Jays on Minor League deal

Drafted in the 12th round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, it took light-hitting shortstop Jonathan Diaz eight years and a short jaunt to Boston in order to finally see the playing field in Toronto. After all that dedication and perseverance, why change things now?

According to Brendan Kennedy of The Star, Toronto and Diaz have come to an agreement on a new Minor League deal that will see Diaz return to the Blue Jays organization for ninth season and will once again receive an invitation to join the club in Spring Training.

Diaz saw time all around the Blue Jays infield in the early moments of the 2014 season, even working his way into three innings of work in left field. Known for his glove work, Diaz did exceptional work on the left side of the infield, posting a UZR/150 of 20.4 in 93.1 innings at shortstop.

However his glove couldn’t carry his bat, which was borderline abyssmal in Toronto. In 23 games with the Jays, Diaz slashed .156/.256/.184 with 4 RBI. Back in Buffalo, where the 29-year-old spent the remainder of the season, the results were a bit better but still underwhelming. In 92 games with the Bisons, Diaz hit just .205/.319/.295.

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That type of performance from aging Minor League veterans often results in tough decisions. The Blue Jays made such a decision when they opted to outright Diaz to Triple-A Buffalo following the season, essentially granting him free agency. However, there must have been mutual interest to bring Diaz back into the fold for 2015.

There isn’t a lot of upside here for Diaz, but he does provide the Blue Jays with a quality glove that can slide up to the big league level should a need arise. Given how injuries have plagued the infield over the last two seasons, having depth in the minors to hedge our bets is probably a good choice.