The Rockies announced that they have acquired right-hander Jair Jurrjens from the Reds in exchange for minor league first baseman Harold Riggins.
The 28-year-old Jurrjens inked a minor league deal with the Reds back in May that came with an $800K base salary upon making the Major Leagues. The former All-Star has thrown 34 1/3 innings with Triple-A Louisville since signing the deal, posting a 4.46 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9.
Jurrjens looked to be a young star on the rise a few years ago, finishing third in the 2008 NL Rookie of the Year voting with the Braves and making an All-Star team in 2011. Acquired from the Tigers in exchange for Edgar Renteria, Jurrjens posted a 3.34 ERA in 671 2/3 innings for Atlanta from 2008-11, but knee injuries have derailed his career and limited him to just 55 2/3 innings of 6.68 ERA ball since. He spent last season with the Triple-A affiliates for the Orioles and Tigers, posting a combined 4.57 ERA in 134 innings.
Riggins, 24, had a .263/.351/.447 batting line with seven homers in 205 plate appearances with Double-A Tulsa this season. He ranked as Colorado’s No. 23rd prospect heading into the 2013 season, per Baseball America, but did not crack the club’s Top 30 prospects heading into this season.
The Rockies have seen a great deal of their pitchers go down with injuries, as they currently have Brett Anderson, Tyler Chatwood, Eddie Butler, Jordan Lyles, Jhoulys Chacin and Christian Bergman on the disabled list. Jurrjens will provide depth at Triple-A Colorado Springs for the time being, per the Denver Post’s Nick Groke (on Twitter).
