Victor Diaz

Traded to Texas after the Mets finally gave up on him, Diaz figures to benefit from a change of scenery. The Rangers are clearly hoping that Diaz's poor .224/.276/.330 season at Triple-A Norfolk was an abberation, but don't look for much in 2007 given how hard it's been for Texas to find at-bats for guys like Jason Botts.

Up and down. Up and Down. Diaz took advantage of Mike Cameron not being ready in April and went on a tear. He cooled in late-April, however, and was demoted. Cameron's season-ending injury in August brought Diaz back to the bigs, where he excelled initially before a September slump. His Achilles heel, bad plate discipline, disappeared during that strong April, but reared its ugly head again from May on (62/15 K/BB ratio). Yet it's his bat that will keep him in the majors. His outfield defense is average at best. He needs work tracking fly balls, since he was an infielder until 2004. He's been called Manny Ramirez Jr. because of his power swing, and if Senior doesn't end up with the Mets, Diaz is in line at worst to be part of a platoon in right field.

Diaz's bat is what will get him a ticket to the major leagues. His performance at Triple-A last year earned him a mid-September call-up, during which he continued to show a live bat. Diaz, who was the main player acquired from the Dodgers in 2003 in the Jeromy Burnitz deal, moved from second base to right field last season due to his body type and lack of aptitude in the infield. He still needs work on his plate discipline, but his late-season numbers opened some eyes in the organization. There is some speculation, depending on what the Mets do this offseason, that he could get a shot at manning one of the corner outfield positions in 2005, but a more likely scenario has him as the fourth outfielder.

Diaz was the main player acquired by the Mets in the Jeromy Burnitz trade in July. He proved that he could handle Double-A pitching upon arriving. Diaz, like many young hitters, needs to improve his plate discipline but possesses a power hitting bat that will be his ticket to the pros. The main question surrounding Diaz is where to play him. Many scouts feel that his body type and fielding aptitude may be better-suited to a corner position and not 2B. Diaz will start the year in Triple-A and if the Mets only acquire a stopgap at 2B, he could be called up sometime during 2004. A more likely scenario is that he is up in the majors in 2005.

Diaz played well enough at low Single-A to make a two level jump mid season and struggled as a result. Can play all over the infield which is important as his future at 1B is impaired by Chen and Loney. He has utility man potential someday.