The Rockies have designated 29-year old righty swinging 1B Brad Eldred for assignment. Eldred played in 11 games for the Rockies this year and he was 6 of 24 (.250 avg, .750 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs. It wasn’t all good for Eldred though as he whiffed 10 times for the Rockies. The Rockies need Eldred’s roster spot to activate starting SS Troy Tulowitzki off the D.L. Tulowitzki has played in 63 games for the Rockies this year and he is 72 of 239 (.301 avg, .863 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 9 homers, 34 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. The Rockies hope Tulowitzki gives them a jolt to get them back into the playoff race.

The Rockies have activated 26-year old righty reliever Huston Street from the 15-day disabled list. He pitched in 9 games (2 starts) in AA+AAA-ball this year on a rehab assignment and he was 1-1 with a 8.64 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP. The Rockies will likely bring Street along slowly letting him work his way back to being the closer. Street pitched in 64 games (0 starts) for the Rockies in his first year with them in 2009 and he was 4-1 with 35 saves, a 3.06 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. The Rockies have DFA’d 31-year old righty reliever Juan Rincon to make room on the roster for Street. Rincon pitched in 2 games (0 starts) for the Rockies this year and he was 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA and a 2.50 WHIP. He pitched in 28 games (0 starts) in his two years with the Rockies and he was 3-2 with a 7.31 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP.

The Rockies have released 38-year old righty swinging catcher Paul LoDuca. LoDuca played in 14 games in AAA-ball this year and he was 10 of 43 (.233 avg, .594 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 1 homer and 7 RBIs. LoDuca got bumped after Paul Phillips accepted his minor league assignment as the Rockies like him more than LoDuca. This likely will end LoDuca’s hopes of making it back to the major leagues.

The Rockies have designated 33-year old righty swinging catcher Paul Phillips. Phillips has played in 6 games for the Rockies this season and he was 5 of 17 (.294 avg, .663 OPS) with 4 runs scored and 1 RBI. The Rockies have recalled 27-year old righty swinging catcher Chris Iannetta from the minors. Iannetta played in 8 games for the Rockies earlier this season in which he was 4 for 30 (.133 avg, .569 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 2 homers and 2 RBIs. He didn’t mope in AAA as he earned his way back to Denver. Iannetta played in 17 games in AAA-ball this year and he was 22 of 63 (.349 avg, 1.146 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 5 homers and 21 RBIs. Phillips will accept a minor league assignment if he clears waivers.

The Rockies have signed 34-year old switch hitting 2B Kaz Matsui to a minor league deal. Matsui played in 27 games for the Astros before this release this year and he was 10 of 71 (.141 avg, .352 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 RBI and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 630 games in his 7 years in the majors and he is 615 of 2,302 (.267 avg, .701 OPS) with 330 runs scored, 32 homers, 211 RBIs and 102 stolen bases. This was a good gamble for the Rockies as Matsui might just earn a chance to compete with Clint Barmes at some point in 2010.