Angels acquire LHP Jose Alvarez from Detroit
Club sends INF Andrew Romine to Tigers
The Angels today acquired LHP Jose Alvarez from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for INF Andrew Romine. Today's announcement was made by General Manager Jerry Dipoto.
Alvarez, 24, appeared in 14 games with the Tigers in 2013 and spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Toledo, where he was named Detroit's Minor League Pitcher of the Year. In 21 games (20 starts) for Toledo, he posted an 8-6 record and his 2.80 ERA (128.2 IP - 40 ER) ranked fourth in the International League. His 7.89 strikeouts per nine innings also ranked fourth in the IL while he was fifth with a .235 batting average against and 1.79 walks per nine innings. He was named by Baseball America as having the best changeup and control in the International League.
A native of Barcelona, VZ, Alvarez made his Major League debut for Detroit on June 9, 2013 vs. Cleveland and became the first Tigers starter to win his big league debut since 1999 (Alfredo Figaro). He also became one of just four Tigers pitchers since 1916 to allow one-or-fewer runs in six-or-more innings in his Major League debut. In 14 total games (six starts) for Detroit, he went 1-5 with a 5.82 ERA (38.2 IP - 25 ER) and 31 strikeouts. He was originally signed by Boston as a minor league free agent in 2005 and was traded to Florida in 2009. Alvarez signed with Detroit as a minor league free agent prior to the 2012 season.
Romine, 28, has spent all of his seven professional seasons in the Angels organization and appeared with the Halos in each of the last four seasons. He appeared in 47 games for the Angels in 2013, batting .259 (28/108) with nine runs scored, three doubles and 10 RBI. He batted .287 (104/363) in 89 games for Triple-A Salt Lake with 16 doubles, five triples, four home runs, 39 RBI and 15 stolen bases. During his four major league stints, he batted .250 (38/152) with 13 runs scored, 16 doubles, 11 RBI and three stolen bases in 74 games. The Winter Haven, Florida native was drafted by the Angels in the fifth round of the 2007 amateur draft.