Left-hander appeared to be moving on from the Seattle Mariners when he elected free agency on January 29. Instead, his time away from the organization turned out to be brief.
Just two weeks later, Seattle brought the five-year veteran back into the fold on a minor league contract that includes a non-roster invitation to major league spring training.
Díaz’s hold on a 40-man roster spot had been shaky throughout the offseason. The Mariners ultimately designated him for assignment after acquiring right-hander Cooper Criswell in a late-January trade with the New York Mets. That move seemed to signal the end of Díaz’s tenure in Seattle. However, the organization clearly still saw enough value to offer him another opportunity to compete for a role.
When the Mariners announced Díaz’s return, their list of non-roster invitees to big league camp grew to 35 players. While a non-roster invite does not guarantee anything, it provides Díaz with a chance to impress the coaching staff and potentially earn his way back onto the major league roster.
The 29-year-old has spent the past two seasons in Seattle’s system but has seen limited action at the MLB level. Over that span, he made just six appearances for the Mariners. In 11 innings of work, Díaz allowed five earned runs, including two home runs, while striking out nine batters. Though the sample size was small, it did little to cement his status as a reliable bullpen option at the highest level.
Most of Díaz’s recent work has come with Triple-A Tacoma. In each of the last two seasons, he posted an earned run average slightly above 4.00. While those numbers might not jump off the page, context is important. The Pacific Coast League is widely regarded as a hitter-friendly environment, where inflated offensive numbers are common. Even so, Díaz’s performance has not necessarily demanded a permanent call-up, which helps explain why he has been on the roster bubble.
Despite that, Seattle’s decision to re-sign him suggests the organization believes there is still untapped potential. Díaz reportedly enjoyed a healthy offseason, which could position him well heading into camp. If he has refined his pitch mix or improved command, he may yet carve out a more defined role.
As a left-handed option, Díaz provides organizational depth in an area that can be valuable over the course of a long season. Bullpens often evolve due to injuries and performance swings, and having experienced arms ready at Triple-A can make a difference.
While nothing is guaranteed, Díaz’s swift return to Seattle shows that his story with the Mariners is not finished. With a strong spring, he could once again enter the conversation for innings out of the bullpen in 2026.
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