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Rockies sign reliever Villarreal

By Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 14, 2008 at 9:43 a.m.
Updated August 14, 2008 at 9:43 a.m.

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The Rockies have signed reliever Oscar Villarreal to a minor league contract, adding a veteran at minimal financial risk who might help in long and middle relief this season and in 2009.

Villarreal, 26, will make his debut in the organization Saturday with Triple-A Colorado Springs. He will be the starter at Salt Lake to stretch out his arm and build up innings, having not pitched since Aug. 5.

Villarreal is under contract next year for $1.6 million, but the Rockies would have to pay him only the major league minimum, which is $400,000 in 2009. That’s because Villarreal signed a two-year, $3 million contract after last season with Houston.

That deal pays Villareal $1 million this year, but the Rockies would only have to pay him the prorated portion of $390,000, the minimum salary this season, if they bring him to the big leagues.

Villarreal went 1-3 with a 5.02 ERA in 35 games for the Astros, who designated him for assignment July 2. With more than five years of major league service, Villarreal had the right to refuse an assignment to the minor leagues and became a free agent.

He signed a minor league contract with Seattle on July 19 and in five games with Triple-A Tacoma affiliate, Villarreal went 1-0 with one save and a 4.66 ERA, holding opposing batters to a .189 average.

Villarreal’s deal with the Mariners allowed him to leave Aug. 8 if they had not brought him to the big leagues, and he exercised that right.

Villarreal made two appearances totaling five innings this month for Tacoma, the last on Aug. 5 when he pitched two innings. With the Sky Sox, Villarreal will be reunited with pitching coach Chuck Kniffen, who was Villarreal’s pitching coach with Arizona and in Hermosillo, Mexico, in winter ball.

Villarreal has shown the ability to log a substantial number of innings out of the bullpen. He set a National League rookie record with 86 appearances, including one start, for Arizona in 2003 and worked 98 innings.

Elbow problems the following year ultimately resulted in surgery that August.

Villarreal made 58 appearances, including four starts, and pitched 921/3 innings for Atlanta in 2006 while going 9-1 with a 3.61 ERA. The following year, he logged 761/3 innings in 51 appearances for the Braves and went 2-2 with a 4.24. ERA.

At Colorado Springs, Villarreal will replace Josh Hall, 27, on the roster. Hall, who made his debut in the organization July 27, will be sent to Double-A Tulsa, an indication the Rockies want to keep him. Hall began his career in the Cincinnati organization and was signed out of the independent Atlantic League on the recommendation of Rockies special assistant Kasey McKeon, who formerly worked for the Reds. In four starts with the Sky Sox, Hall is 2-2 with a 3.96 ERA.

Comments

  • August 14, 2008

    5:26 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bigbadthor writes:

    Generation R? Generation Cheap, keep O'Dowd, he obviously is the genius that built this dynasty. Rockies fans, please boycott the rest of the season, the Mofferts are playing you for chumps, send them a message that them being cheap and not caring about the product won't make them any money.