Rays place Yandy Diaz on restricted list

10:38 am: Rays manager Kevin Cash told Topkin and other reporters that Diaz is out due to a family matter and that his potential return is a day-to-day matter.

09:41 am: The Rays announced that the first baseman Jandy Diaz has been placed on the restricted list, and infielder Curtis Mead was called up from Triple-A to take Diaz’s spot on the active roster. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (X-link) writes that Diaz did not play Friday due to what the Rays described as “a personal matter.”

Given the private nature of this situation, we may not learn more about Diaz’s absence until he is activated or at least closer to a return. The absence comes at a financial cost to Diaz, as he will lose salary (and MLB service time) for any time he spends on the restricted list. Diaz has approximately $3.3 million remaining on his $8 million salary for the 2024 season.

Diaz has been a fixture in Tampa Bay’s lineup over the last six seasons, seeing consistent playing time at both corner infield positions and quietly providing consistently strong offense. Diaz has reached a new level in 2022-23, posting a .314/.406/.475 batting average over 1,158 plate appearances — among all qualified hitters over that two-season span, only six players have a higher wRC+ than Diaz’s 155 mark.

That production has fallen off in 2024, as Diaz’s .273/.329/.396 slash line over 416 PA translates to a 111 wRC+. Though he’s hit better after a chilly start through the first two months, Diaz’s power numbers have fallen off significantly, as his .123 Isolated Slugging mark sits well below his .192 mark from 2023. His .123 ISO is at least more consistent with prior seasons post-2023, but Diaz’s 7.5% walk rate is well below his career 12.2BB%.

Even a lesser version of Diaz is still a big part of Tampa’s lineup, so the Rays now have to deal with an unexpected absence as they try to stay in the playoff race. Diaz has only been used as a first baseman and DH this season, so it seems likely that Isaac Paredes could be moved from third to first base, with Mead stepping into the mix at the hot corner along with Jose Caballero And Amed Rosario.

Diaz’s absence also creates another wrinkle in the Rays’ plans heading into the July 30 trade deadline. Tampa is 48-49 and 5.5 games behind the final AL wild card slot, so there’s still plenty of time for the club to make a run at another postseason berth. However, there has been speculation that the Rays could act as both sellers and buyers at the deadline, potentially bolstering both this season and the future while also trimming some salary from the payroll. If Diaz is still on the restricted list on July 30, it stands to reason that the Rays could look for some infield help, though it’s worth noting that Paredes could be a potential trade candidate. Star Perspective Junior Caminero has just returned to Triple-A play after a quadriceps injury and it is believed that a healthy Caminero will be called back up to Tampa Bay’s active roster to join the infield.