HOUSTON — The Pirates traded outfielder Matt Diaz to the Atlanta Braves today for a player to be named later or cash.
Diaz was not immediately available for comment.
The 33-year-old Diaz, whom the Pirates signed as a free agent on Dec. 14, 2010, returns to the team with which he spent the previous five seasons. He came to the Pirates with a lifetime .301 average but hit just .259 in 100 games with the Pirates this season.
In a bench role for most of the second half, Diaz started just six games for the Pirates in August. His average in the second half of the season is .193 with a .277 on-base percentage and .228 slugging percentage.
The Pirates also traded John Bowker, who'd been with Triple-A Indianapolis and was on the 40-man roster, to Philadelphia for a player to be named later or cash.
More details in tomorrow's Trib.
