Orioles Acquire INF Juan Castro from Colorado Rockies
The Orioles today acquired minor league INF JUAN CASTRO from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for minor league INF MIKE McCOY and immediately selected his contract from Triple-A Norfolk. To make room for Castro on the roster, INF FREDDIE BYNUM has been outrighted to Norfolk.
Castro, 36, has over 11 years of major league service time with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1995-99), Cincinnati Reds (2000-04, '06-08) and Minnesota Twins (2005-06). He was on Cincinnati's Opening Day roster and appeared in seven games for the Reds, going 0-for-10, before being released. He signed as a minor league free agent with the Rockies and batted .300 (15-50) with eight runs in 18 games for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Castro has batted .230 (510-2221) in 930 career major league games.
Acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in a minor league trade on March 18, McCoy, 27, batted .276 (42-152) in 53 games for the Tides this season.
Bynum hit .179 (20-112) in 40 games over two stints with the Orioles.
The Orioles also announced that they have returned RHP RANDOR BIERD from his rehabilitation assignment and activated him from the disabled list and placed RHP GREG AQUINO on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 13, with a left hamstring strain.
Bierd went 0-1 with a 2.77 ERA (13.0IP, 4ER) in 11 rehab outings with Rookie Level Gulf Coast, Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie. He was placed on the disabled list on May 2, retroactive to April 30, with right shoulder impingement. Bierd appeared in nine games for the Orioles in April, going 0-1 with a 2.03 ERA (13.1IP, 3ER).
Aquino rejoined the Orioles on July 5 and appeared in three games, allowing three earned runs in 3.0 innings of work. Overall, he has posted a 12.54 ERA (9.1IP, 13ER) in nine games with Baltimore this season.
