DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers are bringing right-handed reliever Miguel Diaz back to the organization.
Diaz was signed to a minor-league contract and will presumably report to Triple-A Toledo in the coming days.
Diaz was designated for assignment by the Tigers at the end of spring training after failing to make the Opening Day roster.
He was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros and pitched briefly for the big-league club before being designated for assignment again. This time he cleared waivers, became a free agent and re-signed with the Astros on a minor-league deal.
His stint with Triple-A Sugar Land did not go well. Diaz allowed 15 runs on 20 hits in 14 innings, striking out 10 and walking five. He was released by the Astros on May 27.
Diaz, 29, received a September call-up to Detroit in 2022 and 2023. After he allowed just one earned run in 14 innings last September, the Tigers decided to carry him on the 40-man roster through the winter and give him a chance to compete for a job in 2024.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Diaz was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 Rule 5 Draft and then traded to the Padres, where he made his big-league debut despite having no upper-level minor-league experience.
After missing most of two seasons with knee injuries, he pitched well in 2021, posting a 3.64 ERA in 42 innings, striking out 46 and walking 19.
When the Padres let him go after the 2021 season, he signed a minor-league deal with the Tigers and spent most of the last two seasons with Triple-A Toledo.
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