Rockies acquire Jair Jurrjens from Reds for Harold Riggins

The Colorado Rockies have acquired right-hander Jair Jurrjens from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for 24-year-old minor league first baseman Harold Riggins, per a team announcement. The 28-year-old former All-Star will head to Triple-A, where he will serve as organizational depth in case further injuries strike an already hampered big league club in Colorado.

At one time, Jurrjens was considered to be one of the best young pitchers in the game. A former top prospect, Jurrjens posted a 113 ERA+ in his first full major league season with the Atlanta Braves in 2008. The following season, he was even better, posting a 2.60 ERA and 159 ERA+ in 215 innings. Injuries limited him to just 20 starts in 2010, but he got off to a sizzling start in 2011 at the age of 25. Through his first 16 starts, Jurrjens went 12-3 with a 1.87 ERA in 110.2 innings, earning his first and only career All-Star nod. Following the All-Star break, he suffered through numerous injuries, and pitched poor when healthy, notching a 5.88 ERA in seven starts over the second half of 2011.

Since then, Jurrjens has bounced around, making ten excruciating starts with Atlanta in 2012 and surfacing for a seven inning cameo with the Orioles last year. After finishing out the 2013 season in the Tigers' organization, he signed a minor league deal with the Reds in May. His performance has been quite lackluster in Triple-A this season, as he has a 4.46 ERA, 7.1 K/9, and 3.4 BB/9 in six starts with the Louisville Bats.

Riggins, a 2011 seventh round pick out of North Carolina State University, has hit .263/.351/.447 in 205 plate appearances at Double-A Tulsa this season. In 482 appearances with High-A Modesto in the hitter-friendly California League last year, he batted .247/.353/.472 with 22 home runs. Limited to first base, the odds of him making the big leagues in the future appear to be slim.