The Rockies sent infielder Alan Trejo outright to Triple-A Albuquerque but he has exercised his right to elect free agency, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. That indicates he cleared waivers after being designated for assignment last week. The log also indicates that infielder Owen Miller was outrighted after last week’s DFA. He also has the right to free agency, but there’s no indication he has done so.
Trejo, 29 this month, got a brief run on Colorado’s roster. The Rockies acquired him from the Rangers in a cash deal at the end of April. He was sent to the plate 43 times but produced a dismal line of .175/.190/.225.
That’s an extreme low in a small sample but it continues his glove-first trajectory. He now has a .224/.269/.325 batting line and 49 wRC+ in 512 big league plate appearances. He has played the three infield positions to the left of first base, with at least 183 innings at each of those spots. His work at shortstop has been subpar but passable, while he’s been above average at both second and third base.
The Rockies acquired Trejo and selected Miller to fill in during a time when infielders Ezequiel Tovar, Tyler Freeman and Aaron Schunk were all on the IL, though all three were reinstated last week. Trejo and Miller are both out of options, leaving the Rockies little choice but to cut them from the 40-man entirely. As players with previous career outrights, they have the right to reject further outright assignments in favor of free agency.
Trejo’s entire big league career has been with the Rockies, though he has signed minor league deals with the Dodgers and Rangers. Perhaps he and the Rockies will reunite on a fresh minor league deal in the coming days but he will have the chance to talk to the other 29 clubs as well.
Miller was acquired from Milwaukee in a minor trade over the offseason. Colorado called him up despite a modest .244/.322/.372 slash line in Triple-A. He didn’t play much in the big leagues, going 2-14 while starting four games at second base. Assuming he doesn’t elect free agency, he’ll remain in the system as non-roster infield depth.
Photo courtesy of Eakin Howard, Imagn Images
He’ll find something. Just like his brother, Danny, transitioned from action films to children’s cartoons…
I hear he’s good with a machete…
Danny’s the best. Just make sure he gets his Snickers!
Hmmmm. When the Rockies give up on you, you’re either deeply misunderstood by their organization or they know you suck, and most of the time it’s the latter.
The Rockies didn’t give up on Trejo. They traded for him simply because they had all the middle infielders get hurt at the same time.. So they gave him a month of big league pay when he would have otherwise toiled with the Rangers AAA team.
It was more akin to a company hiring a temp worker to cover for a regular worker taking vacation. Regardless of how well they do, they aren’t staying and everyone knows that from the beginning..
Send him to Hollywood to be Danny’s assistant.