Angels acquire Hector Gomez

Update: This report has turned out to be inaccurate according to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. I want to express my apologies for my error in reporting this. I believed I had reliable information, but that turned out not to be the case. I made a mistake, and it is not something that I intend to do again.

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The Los Angeles Angels have acquired shortstop Hector Gomez from the Milwaukee Brewers per a source. Wisconsin Sports Blog has added that the Brewers will receive a player to be named later in exchange for the 26-year-old infielder.

Gomez was signed out of the Dominican Republic by the Colorado Rockies in 2006. He had a breakout season at Low-A Ashville in 2007, hitting .266/.309/.421 with 20 steals, 53 extra-base hits and excellent defense at shortstop, all at the age of 19. Heading into the 2008 season, he was ranked as the 95th best prospect in the game by Baseball America.  He struggled through injuries over the next four seasons, but was good enough in 2011 to garner a big league call-up in mid-September. He played in just two games for the Rockies, hitting a pair of singles and walking once in seven plate appearances. Gomez was claimed off waivers by the Brewers in June of 2012. Last season, he struggled offensively for Double-A Huntsville, posting a .494 OPS in 113 games. He has three hits and one walk in nine big-league Spring Training plate appearances this month.

Gomez figures to be Triple-A fodder for a team lacking in depth. The Angels bench is currently slated to compose of Hank Conger, Grant Green, and Collin Cowgill/JB Shuck, with the fourth spot likely going to either Carlos Pena, John McDonald, Andrew Romine, or Luis Jimenez. Gomez has an outside shot at that final roster slot, but odds are he spends the year in Salt Lake City unless he can show significant offensive improvements.