|
|
| Oscar Villarreal has been suffering from a sore elbow and doesn't appear to be ready to receive in-game action any time soon, according to the Kansas City Star. |
Our View: Villarreal was signed to a minor-league deal in January and likely needed a strong showing in spring training to make the Royals' initial 2009 roster. Thus, Villarreal will almost surely be placed in the minors whenever he's back to full health.
|
|
|
|
| The Denver Post reports that former Rockies pitcher Oscar Villarreal has signed a minor-league contract worth $400,000 with the Kansas City Royals. |
Our View: After struggling at AAA Colorado Springs last season, Villarreal was not invited to join the Rockies last September as a call-up. His contract with the Royals guarantees him $91,500 and allows him to leave the team if he is not on the major-league roster by May 15 or Jun. 1.
|
|
|
|
| Oscar Villarreal turned down the Astros assignment that would have sent him to Triple-A, and as as result he will be placed on waivers and become a free agent on Monday, according to MLB.com. "I'm disappointed about the decision," general manager Ed Wade said. "We thought there was an opportunity for him to be productive here. By going to Round Rock, he had a chance to get straightened out. |
Our View: Villarreal has been a mess this year with a 5.02 ERA and 1.57 WHIP while allowing 12 home runs in 37.2 innings. He will certainly be claimed and could have value depending on what his role is with his new club, though he could still end up having to work on his game in the minors given his poor work this season.
|
|
|
|
| Reliever Oscar Villarreal has been designated for assignment, according to the Houston Chronicle. The team recalled reliever Dave Borkowski as a corresponding move. |
Our View: Villarreal allowed 21 earned runs, 42 hits, and 17 walks over 37.2 innings of relief for Houston, and held no fantasy value prior to his designation.
|
|
|
|
| The Astros signed Oscar Villarreal to a two-year, $2.85 million contract extension Friday. Villareal was acquired via trade from the Braves in November. He will help set up Jose Valverde in Houston this season. |
|
|
|
| The Astros acquired Oscar Villarreal from the Braves Friday in exchange for outfielder Josh Anderson. Villareal held a 4.24 ERA in 76 1/3 innings for the Braves in 2007. "Oscar Villarreal gives us another experienced, durable arm for the bullpen," Astros GM Ed Wade told Sports Network. "He has the ability to pitch late in a game, throw multiple innings and pitch back-to-back days. We gave up a good, young prospect in Josh Anderson, but with the additions of Michael Bourn and Yordany Ramirez, along with our earlier waiver claim of Reggie Abercrombie, we had the outfield depth to make this move." |
|
|
|
| The Braves signed Oscar Villarreal to a one-year contract worth $925,000 on Sunday, according to the AP. The right-hander could make another $100,000 in bonuses based on how many games he starts and finishes. Villarreal went 9-1 with a 3.61 ERA in 58 games (four starts) with Atlanta in 2006. |
|
|
|
| Braves manager Bobby Cox said that Oscar Villarreal would get at least one more start, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Villarreal pitched five scoreless innings on Thursday in his first start in over three years. |
|
|
|
| In his first start in over three years, and only the second start of his career, Oscar Villarreal was lights out, according to the AP. Villarreal picked up the win while pitching five innings of shutout ball, allowing only one hit and striking out four while walking one. |
|
|
|
| As expected, Braves manager Bobby Cox confirmed yesterday that Oscar Villarreal will start tomorrow's game, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. It'll be his first start since 2003, though 10 of his past 15 appearances have gone two or more innings. Cox said he plans to give Villarreal two starts before re-evaluating the situation. |
|
|
|
| The Braves may move Oscar Villarreal out of the bullpen to make a spot start on Thursday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Why not?" said Villarreal. "I could go five or six innings. In the minors and winter ball, I was a starter." Villareal hasn't started a game in the majors since 2003, and that was the only start he's ever made at the big-league level. Kevin Barry, who gave up five runs in 3 1/3 innings Saturday, could also get the nod. |
|
