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Rockies acquire RHP Jairo Diaz from Angels

Club sends Josh Rutledge to Angels to complete trade

SAN DIEGO - The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club has acquired right-handed pitcher Jairo Diaz from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in exchange for infielder Josh Rutledge. 

"We want to thank Josh for everything he has done within the Rockies organization and we are proud of the way he developed and played the game of baseball for us," said Rockies Senior Vice President/General Manager Jeff Bridich "We are also excited to bring aboard a talent like Jairo Diaz and look forward to his contributions in our bullpen, hopefully in the near future."

Diaz, 23, made his Major League debut for the Angels in 2014. The 6-foot right-hander posted a 3.18 ERA (5.2 ip, 2 er) with 3 walks and 8 strikeouts in five Major League games. During the 2014 season, Diaz also pitched at High-A Inland Empire and Double-A Arkansas, where he combined to post a 4-4 record with a 3.48 ERA (64.2 ip, 25 er), 20 walks and 85 strikeouts in 56 games, all in relief. The native of Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela was originally signed by the Angels as a non-drafted free agent on August 1, 2007.

Rutledge, 25, spent the majority of the 2014 season in the Majors with the Rockies, where he batted .269 (83-for-309) with 16 doubles, 7 triples, 4 home runs and 33 RBI in 105 games. Rutledge also played 15 games at Triple-A Colorado Springs, where he batted .333 (18-for-54) with 3 doubles, 1 home run and 5 RBI. In three seasons in the Majors with Colorado, Rutledge has batted .259 (226-for-871) with 42 doubles, 13 triples, 19 home runs, 89 RBI and 126 runs scored in 266 games. He was originally selected by Colorado in the third round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Alabama.

The Rockies currently have 39 players on the 40-man roster.

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