The Rockies have signed 33-year old switch hitting 2B/SS/OF Alfredo Amezaga to a minor league deal. Due to a knee injury last season he only played in 1 game in AA-ball for the Dodgers in which he went 2 for 2 with 1 run scored and 1 RBI. He last played in the majors back in 2009 for the Florida Marlins. Amezaga has played in 544 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 334 of 1,331 (.251 avg, .652 OPS) with 167 runs scored, 12 homers, 106 RBIs and 49 stolen bases. Amezaga can play everywhere but pitcher, catcher and 1B so he could be valuable to the Rockies’ bench in 2011 if he makes the team out of spring training.

The Colorado Rockies have signed 35-year old righty swinging catcher Chad Moeller to a minor league deal. He played in 9 games for the Yankees last season and he was 3 of 14 (.214 avg, .695 OPS) with 2 runs scored. Moeller has now played in 501 games in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 315 of 1,392 (.226 avg, .640 OPS) with 146 runs scored, 29 homers, 132 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Moeller will likely get a shot to compete with Jose Morales this spring for the right to back up Chris Iannetta in 2011.

UPDATE: (3/11/2011) - The Rockies have released Chad Moeller.

The Rockies have designated 27-year old starter/reliever Samuel Deduno for assignment to make room on the roster for Clayton Mortensen. Deduno pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last season and he was 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He also pitched in 10 games (all starts) in A+AAA-ball last year in which he was 3-3 with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. This was kind of a suprise move by the Rockies as Deduno came into last season as the Rockies’ #11 prospect according to Baseball America.

UPDATE: (1/29/2011) - The San Diego Padres have claimed Deduno off waivers.

The Rockies have acquired 25-year old righty starting pitcher Clayton Mortensen from the A’s for 23-year old righty starting pitcher Ethan Hollingsworth. Mortensen pitched in 1 game (1 start) for the A’s last season and he was 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He also pitched in 26 games (all starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 13-6 with a 4.25 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Mortensen has now pitched in 8 games (7 starts) in parts of two seasons in the majors and he is 2-4 with a 7.12 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP. Hollingsworth pitched in 27 games (all starts) in A+AA-ball for the Rockies last season and he was 12-8 with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. I like this deal for the Rockies as Mortensen could help them in the rotation or the pen this year.

The Rockies have signed 29-year old righty swinging outfielder Willy Taveras to a minor league deal. He played in 27 games for the Nationals last season and he was 7 of 35 (.200 avg, .500 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 4 RBIs and 1 stolen bases. Taveras has now played in 670 games in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 662 of 2,412 (.274 avg, .647 OPS) with 358 runs scored, 8 homers, 128 RBIs and 195 stolen bases. Taveras will get a chance to win a job on the Rockies’ bench this spring but he’s a longshot.