Einar

Diaz

Diaz is expected to get a one-year, $600,000 contract.

Todd Greene (bruised knee) and Chad Kreuter (hyperextended elbow) are also day-to-day, so the Rangers are hurting at catcher right now.

Diaz, who was hitting .218 at Triple-A Buffalo, will spend the rest of the month at Las Vegas and then likely join the Dodgers as a third catcher in September.

Diaz had an eight-game hitting streak snapped Sunday, but has raised his average from .236 to a respectable .262.

Diaz will see very little action as a third catcher, though this does free up Toby Hall for pinch-hitting duties on occasion.

Diaz, who was making his 28th start of the season, is batting .235 with six extra-base hits in 98 at-bats. That certainly doesn’t figure to get him a starting gig somewhere next year.

Diaz, who hit .223/.293/.302 in 139 AB in his one season in Montreal, gets a $400,000 buyout. It’s unlikely that any team will look at him as a potential regular, but he probably will land another job as a backup.

He can earn $225,000 in bonuses. Diaz, who turns 32 in two weeks, will back up Yadier Molina for St. Louis. The former Indian hit just .223/.293/.302 while playing behind Brian Schneider last year. He’s nothing more than another Gary Bennett now.

The switch wasn’t injury related. Showalter just wanted Greene’s bat in the lineup.

Diaz will back up young Yadier Molina this season.