Pina acquired from Tigers to complete K-Rod trade
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Brewers acquired catcher Manny Pina from the Tigers on Thursday as the player to be named later in the teams' Nov. 18 trade sending Francisco Rodriguez to Detroit.
Pina, 28, was not added to Milwaukee's 40-man roster but was invited to Major League Spring Training camp. He's immediately a candidate to catch at Triple-A Colorado Springs next season, and he could also provide depth in the event the Brewers trade starting catcher Jonathan Lucroy.
A career .256 hitter in 11 Minor League seasons, Pina appeared in five big league games for the Royals in 2011 and 2012. He is coming off a good offensive season at Triple-A Toledo, where he batted .305 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs in 77 games.
The teams waited until Thursday to move Pina because he had been eligible for that morning's Rule 5 Draft.
The Brewers had earlier acquired second base prospect Javier Betancourt in the trade for Rodriguez. Betancourt slipped a spot to No. 21 on the top Brewers prospects list after Thursday's trade for Red Sox third baseman Garin Cecchini, who entered Milwaukee's list at No. 20.