Royals Sign Veteran Catcher Elias Díaz to Minor League Deal

The 35-year-old backstop brings defensive skills and postseason experience to Kansas City.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Kansas City Royals have signed former All-Star catcher Elias Díaz to a minor league contract. Díaz, a 35-year-old Venezuelan, has played in the majors since 2015 with the Pirates, Rockies, and Padres. He is known for his strong defensive abilities behind the plate, including one of the quickest pop times in baseball.

Why it matters

The Royals are looking to add veteran depth at the catcher position to complement their young core of Salvador Perez and Carter Jensen. Díaz's defensive skills could help the Royals' pitching staff, and his postseason experience could prove valuable as the team aims to return to the playoffs.

The details

Díaz spent the 2025 season as a backup catcher for the San Diego Padres, hitting .204/.270/.337 with 9 home runs in 106 games. Prior to that, he had a breakout year with the Colorado Rockies in 2021, making the All-Star team after hitting .267/.316/.409 with 14 home runs. The Royals are hoping Díaz can provide a steady defensive presence behind the plate and potentially spell Perez or Jensen at first base or designated hitter.

  • Díaz signed his minor league deal with the Royals on February 20, 2026.

The players

Elias Díaz

A 35-year-old Venezuelan catcher who has played in the majors since 2015 with the Pirates, Rockies, and Padres. He is known for his strong defensive abilities behind the plate, including one of the quickest pop times in baseball.

Salvador Perez

The Royals' starting catcher, a seven-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner.

Carter Jensen

A young catcher in the Royals' system who could see increased playing time with the addition of Díaz.

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What they’re saying

“Elias Díaz brings a wealth of experience and defensive prowess to our catching corps. We're excited to have him in the organization and see how he can contribute to our success this season.”

— J.J. Picollo, Royals General Manager (Royals Review)

What’s next

Díaz will report to the Royals' minor league camp and look to earn a spot on the major league roster during spring training.

The takeaway

The Royals' signing of Elias Díaz adds veteran depth and defensive stability to their catching position, which could prove valuable as they look to return to the playoffs in 2026.