A’s agree to terms with INF/OFs Díaz and Peterson on two-year contracts

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland A’s agreed to terms with infielder/outfielders Aledmys Díaz and Jace Peterson on two-year contracts through the 2024 season, the club announced today. To clear space on the 40-man roster, the A’s designated infielders Ernie Clement and Yonny Hernandez for assignment.

Díaz hit .243 with 12 home runs, 38 RBI and a .691 OPS in 92 games with Houston last year. He started games at six different positions, including 22 in left field, 18 at second base, 16 at shortstop, eight at third base, seven at designated hitter and five at first base.

Díaz is a .266 career hitter with 74 home runs, 269 RBI and a .763 OPS in 582 games in seven seasons in the majors with the Cardinals (2016-17), Blue Jays (2018) and Astros (2019-22). The 32-year-old right-handed hitter batted a career-high .300 with 17 home runs and 65 RBI in 111 games as a rookie with St. Louis in 2016 and was named to the National League All-Star team that year. Díaz slugged a career-high 18 home runs in 130 games with Toronto in 2018 but has played in 92 games or fewer in each of the last four seasons with Houston. The native of Cuba has appeared in 32 postseason games for the Astros over the last four years.

Peterson played in 113 games with Milwaukee in 2022 and batted .236 with a career-high eight home runs, 34 RBI and a .698 OPS. He added 33 walks for a .316 on-base percentage and was successful in 12-of-13 stolen base attempts. The 32-year-old left-handed hitter started 67 games at third base, nine in right field, three at first base and two in left field and also appeared in three games at second base and one at pitcher.

Peterson made his Major League debut with San Diego in 2014 and has played for the Padres, Atlanta Braves (2015-17), New York Yankees (2018), Baltimore Orioles (2018-19) and Brewers (2020-22) during nine seasons in the majors. He batted .241 with 14 home runs and 65 RBI in 206 games over his final two seasons with the Brewers after hitting .209 with nine home runs and 61 RBI in 240 games over his previous four seasons. Peterson is a .231 career hitter with 36 home runs and 207 RBI in 740 games but also has a .321 on-base percentage. He has played every position except catcher in his career, with his most playing time coming at second base (324 games) and third base (171 games).

Clement was claimed off waivers from Cleveland on Sept. 23 and went 1-for-18 in six games with the A’s. He was on the Opening Day roster for the Guardians and batted .200 with three doubles and six RBI in 63 games over two stints. The 26-year-old right-handed hitter combined for a .184 average with four doubles, six RBI and a .452 OPS in 69 games overall and also hit .238 with four home runs, 17 RBI and a .729 OPS in 21 games with Triple-A Columbus.

Hernandez was claimed off waivers by the A’s from the Diamondbacks on Nov. 3. He had three stints with the Diamondbacks in 2022 and went 2-for-24 (.083) with two walks in 12 games. The 24-year-old switch hitter combined for a .241 average, one home run, 31 RBI, and a .673 OPS in 71 games with Triple-A Round Rock in the Texas organization and Triple-A Reno. Hernandez made his Major League debut with the Rangers in 2021 and is a .198 hitter with six RBI and 13 stolen bases in 55 career games in the Majors.