The Houston Astros have brought back a familiar face in Aledmys Diaz, signing him to a minor league deal, as reported by Brian McTaggart. 
Diaz, who previously played for the Astros from 2019 to 2022, is known for his versatility, primarily as an infielder but also capable of playing corner outfield positions. Diaz initially joined Houston ahead of the 2019 season after his time with the Toronto Blue Jays. During his three seasons with the Astros, he batted .255 and played a pivotal role off the bench, contributing to their World Series victory in 2022.
After leaving Houston, Diaz signed a two-year contract with the Oakland Athletics, where he saw more regular playing time but struggled with injuries and performance issues.His 2023 season was particularly challenging, batting just .229 with minimal home runs and RBI before being released by the A’s recently.
Returning to Houston provides Diaz with a fresh start in familiar surroundings. While he faces competition from other bench players on the depth chart, the Astros are aware of his capabilities and are offering him an opportunity to prove himself again at the Major League level. Diaz was an All-Star in his rookie season with the St. Louis Cardinals back in 2016.
The Astros, despite a somewhat challenging season, have shown recent improvement with four consecutive wins and a 7-3 record in their last ten games. They currently hold second place in the American League West with a 50-44 record, trailing the Seattle Mariners. Their offense has been a notable strength, ranking highly in various categories including hits, batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging. Key players like Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez have been instrumental, leading the team in batting and power statistics.
Pitching has been more inconsistent for Houston, exacerbated by the absence of Justin Verlander due to a neck injury, with no clear timeline for his return. Despite these challenges, the Astros are poised to challenge for the division lead, with a pivotal series against the Mariners looming as they head into the second half of the season.