Rockies report: Villarreal added

By Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 14, 2008 at 9:11 p.m.

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The Rockies added a potential long or middle reliever at minimal financial risk by signing veteran Oscar Villarreal to a minor league contract.

Villarreal, 26, signed a two-year, $3 million contract with Houston during the offseason but was designated for assignment July 2 after going 1-3 with a 5.02 ERA. He had enough service time in the big leagues to become a free agent and signed a minor league contract with Seattle on July 19.

After going 1-0 with a 4.66 ERA in five games for Triple- A Tacoma, Villarreal invoked an out clause in his contract Aug. 8 when he wasn't promoted to the majors.

He'll pitch Saturday for Triple-A Colorado Springs at Salt Lake and is expected to start to stretch out his arm, having not pitched since Aug. 5.

If Villarreal is promoted, the Rockies will only be responsible for a prorated portion of the major league minimum salary of $390,000 this season and $400,000 in 2009, when the minimum rises.

AILING

Catcher Yorvit Torrealba was scratched from the lineup and underwent a magnetic resonance imaging exam that detected a small meniscus tear in his left knee. He received a cortisone shot and traveled with the club to Washington.

“It’s been bugging me for about a week and a half,” Torrealba said. “I don’t remember how I did it. I don’t remember doing anything (specific).”

Catcher Adam Melhuse was brought up from Triple-A Colorado Springs and arrived in the sixth inning.

Melhuse, 36, played in 64 games with the Rockies in 2000 and 2001. He was released by Texas on April 30, signed a minor league contract with the Rockies on June 24 and, after five games at short-season Tri-City, went to Colorado Springs, where he hit .314 with three home runs and 14 RBI in 29 games.

ETC.

With his 53rd stolen base, Willy Taveras tied the franchise record set by Eric Young in 141 games in 1996. Taveras has played in 103 games. . . . Aaron Cook said he hadn't been told whether he will start Sunday at Washington or Tuesday at Los Angeles. Scratched from his start Thursday due to a stiff back, Cook threw a bullpen session and said, "Everything was good." . . . First baseman Garrett Atkins entered the game in the fifth on a double switch and went 1-for-3 after missing two games with a strep throat. . . . Outfielder Scott Podsednik, who fractured his left pinkie July 27, traveled with the team to Washington where he's expected to take batting practice for the first time before beginning a brief rehabilitation assignment. Podsednik has hit off a tee and done soft-toss drills since his injury. . . . To make room on the roster for catcher Adam Melhuse, outfielder Cory Sullivan was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs. . . . The Rockies have homered in nine consecutive games, matching the longest streak of the season (June 17-25). During the current streak, the Rockies have hit 12 home runs.

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