Jair Jurrjens
photo by Tim Evearitt
Former Braves' pitcher Jair Jurrjens, a one-time All-Star Game participant, was traded from the Reds to the Rockies in a Minor League deal on Tuesday.
Jurrjens, 28, who represented the Braves in the 2011 All-Star Game, but has bounced between the Majors and Minors since, went 2-3 with a 4.46 era in six starts with Triple-A Louisville after signing with the Reds in May. Jurrjens is scheduled to report to Triple-A Colorado Springs, but he provides depth for a Rockies team that already has used 12 starting pitchers this season.
The Rockies sent Double-A Tulsa second baseman Harold Riggins (.263, seven homers, 25 RBIs) to the Reds.
Jurrjens has undergone multiple knee surgeries since 2011, and those helped lead to his decline. But with the Rockies having raced through their depth because of multiple injuries -- they currently have six starters on the disabled list -- they took a flyer on Jurrjens. The Rockies had interest in swinging a deal for Jurrjens at the height of his career, but it never materialized, and his name has come up at other times since.
Jurrjens is 53-39 with a 3.63 ERA in 128 Major League games with the Braves and the Orioles (two games last season, 0-0, 4.31 ERA).
At Louisville, Jurrjens faced heavy traffic on the bases, with 42 hits and 13 walks in 34 1/3 innings, but he struck out 27. In his last two starts, he threw 13 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on 15 hits and five walks, with eight strikeouts.
--- Source: MLB.com