Rockies Acquire Backup Catcher Morales From Twins
<< Trade Central 2010
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| Twins backup catcher Drew Butera hit just .197 as a rookie in 2010, but Minnesota values his defensive contributions so much that it wants him to continue in that role next season. So with third-string catcher Jose Morales entering the 2011 season with no minor league options remaining, the Twins didn't wait until spring training to trade him to the Rockies for low Class A lefty reliever Paul Bargas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Twins Acquire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paul Bargas, lhp Age: 22. Born: Oct. 13, 1988 in Perris, Calif. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 205. Bats: L. Throws: L. School: UC Riverside. Career Transactions: Selected by Rockies in 13th round of 2009 draft; signed June 17, 2009.
The Twins like strike-throwers and Bargas certainly fits that bill. He sinks his fastball at 87-89 mph and throws a quality changeup, but his stuff is a bit short to project him in anything more than a relief role. His high-70s slider breaks laterally and breaks early, so it probably won't play as a swing-and-miss pitch at higher levels. |
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| Rockies Acquire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jose Morales, c Age: 27. Position: C (46 G), 1B (2 G). Born: Feb. 20, 1983 in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 200. Bats: B. Throws: R. School: Academia la Providencia HS, Rio Piedras, P.R. Career Transactions: Selected by Twins in third round of 2001 draft; signed June 30, 2001.
As backup to Joe Mauer, Morales spent all of April 2009 in the big leagues and finished that season with a .311/.381/.361 batting line in 134 at-bats. He had wrist surgery that offseason, however, and missed the first few weeks of 2010. In that time, Butera established himself as backup catcher, so Morales bided his time in Triple-A until late July. A switch-hitter, Morales can put the barrel to the ball but has minimal power, and in 10 minor league seasons he's hit .286/.341/.383. He has an average arm and receives and frames pitches well, so he profiles as an ideal backup catcher. |
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<< Trade Central 2010
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