Padres sign former All-Star Game MVP

Aug 8, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of an official San Diego Padres New Era on field hat against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

The San Diego Padres are getting a bit stronger behind the plate.

Baseball journalist Rafael Petit reported on Monday that the San Diego Padres are signing catcher Elias Diaz. They are giving a minor-league deal to the righty-hitting Diaz, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of EI Extrabase adds.

Diaz, 33, was an All-Star last season with the Colorado Rockies. He hit .267 with a .725 OPS and was even named All-Star Game MVP after hitting a go-ahead home run for the NL during the eighth inning. This season, Diaz has improved his batting average to .270 but has seen his power numbers take a slight dip.

The 48-83 Rockies decided to release Diaz earlier this month in favor of promoting 22-year-old catcher prospect Drew Romo. Diaz still has a little pop in his bat though and may eventually be an upgrade for San Diego over .230 hitters Kyle Higashioka and Luis Campusano at the catcher position. The Padres currently occupy the second NL Wild Card spot at 75-58 and continue to add pieces after their busy trade deadline of pickups.