Padres re-sign Elías Díaz as first free agent of offseason – elcajon newson Elcajon News only

The Padres on Tuesday made their first free-agent addition of the offseason, agreeing to a reunion with Elías Díaz, the Union-Tribune confirmed.

Miami-based El Extrabase reported on social media that the deal was for $3.5 million for one year.

Díaz also received a mutual option for 2026.

An All-Star Game MVP in 2023, Díaz caught on with the Padres in September after the Rockies released him toward the end of an injury-plagued 2024.

Díaz hit .190/.292/.429   with one homer and three RBIs in 12 games down the stretch. He ultimately replaced Luis Campusano as the No. 2 catcher behind Kyle Higashioka and appeared in one postseason game.

Both Higashioka and Díaz filed for free agency, but Higashioka signed a two-year, $13.5 million deal with the Rangers.

The 34-year-old Díaz is returning to compete with the 26-year-old Campusano — who was optioned to Triple-A El Paso late in the year and left off the postseason roster — for the starting job behind the plate.

Martín Maldonado, 38, was also signed to a minor league deal to add to the catching competition this spring.

Díaz represents the Padres’ first free agent signing this offseason.

In contrast, Jurickson Profar (Braves), Tanner Scott (Dodgers), Donovan Solano (Mariners) and Martín Pérez (White Sox) have followed Higashioka out the door to new teams, while Ha-Seong Kim, David Peralta and Nick Ahmed remain free agents.

The Padres’ only other addition to the 40-man roster this offseason is trading for reliever Ron Marinaccio last week as a depth piece.

Díaz is a .251/.304/.388 hitter across 10 big-league seasons. He hit a career-high 18 home runs in 2021 with the Rockies and paired 14 homers and 72 RBIs with a .267/.316/.409 batting line with the Rockies as an All-Star 2023.

Díaz was hitting .270/.315/.378 with six homers and 39 RBIs in 96 games last year when he was released late in the final year of a three-year, $14.5 million contract as the Rockies committed to giving prospect Drew Romo a look behind the plate.

Staff writer Kevin Acee contributed to this report.