Pirates part ways with catcher Elias Diaz, sign Erik Gonzalez to 1-year deal

Elias Diaz once was considered the Pittsburgh Pirates’ catcher of the future. Now, he is in their past.

The Pirates decided not to offer Diaz a contract Monday night rather than go to a potential arbitration hearing with him. The 29-year-old hit .241/.296/.307 with two home runs in 101 games while being charged with minus-23 defensive runs saved.

Diaz made $578,500 last season and was eligible for arbitration for the first time. He was projected to have a $1.4 million salary if he went to arbitration, according to MLBTradeRumors.com.

Diaz made his major league debut with the Pirates late in the 2015 season. Baseball America named him the best defensive catcher in the minor leagues that year.

The Pirates also signed Erik Gonzalez to a one-year contract, avoiding a hearing with the infielder. The contract is for $725,000, according to the Associated Press. Gonzalez most likely would not have been tendered a contract if he did not agree to the deal.

Acquired in an offseason trade from the Cleveland Indians, Gonzalez had a rough first year with the Pirates. He missed three months with a broken collarbone sustained in an April 20 collision with center fielder Starling Marte and hit .254/.301/.317 with one homer in 53 games.

The Pirates tendered contracts to their other seven arbitration-eligible players (their projected salaries are in parenthesis): first baseman Josh Bell ($5.9 million), closer Keone Kela ($3.4 million), second baseman Adam Frazier ($3.2 million), right-hander Trevor Williams ($3 million), right-hander Jameson Taillon ($2.3 million), righty Chad Kuhl ($1.4 million) and reliever Michael Feliz ($1.2 million).

With Diaz gone, Jacob Stallings currently is the starter behind the plate. New general manager Ben Cherington will almost certainly look to add catching depth.

A possibility is Kevan Smith, who was not tendered a contract by the Los Angeles Angels. The former Pitt and Seneca Valley standout hit .251/.318/.393 with five home runs in 67 games but had minus-6 defensive runs saved.