Einar Diaz

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Einar Antonio Diáz (born December 28, 1972 in Chiriqui, Panama) is a Major League Baseball catcher who plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Diaz was called up in 1996 by the Cleveland Indians to back up then-catcher Sandy Alomar, Jr. He played sparingly from 1996-1998, and in 1999 he got his first starting job with the Indians due to an injury to Alomar. From 2001-2002, Diaz was the primary starting catcher for the Cleveland Indians. In 2003, he platooned as the starter for the Texas Rangers with Rod Barajas. This was the last Diaz would see of a starting job, as his below-average bat skills earned him a backup job with the Montreal Expos in 2004, the St. Louis Cardinals in 2005, and the minor league Buffalo Bisons in 2006.

Diaz made a pitching appearance for the Bisons on June 4, 2006 and was the losing pitcher of record that game. [1]

Diaz never played with the Indians in his second stint with the organization in 2006. On August 12, 2006 he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers (as the Dodgers were in need of another backup catcher after Sandy Alomar Jr. was traded). Diaz would only compile 3 at-bats as a Dodger, collecting 2 hits in those 3 at-bats.

At the conclusion of the 2006 season, Diaz was released by the Dodgers. He signed an offseason Minor League contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and will attend their Spring Training prior to the 2007 season.