The Orioles today announced that they have traded RHP Rodrigo Lopez to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for RHP Jim Miller and RHP Jason Burch.

Lopez went 9-18 with a 5.90 ERA in 36 games, including 29 starts, in 2006. His 18 losses were the most in the major leagues and matched the 2nd highest total in club history. Lopez spent five seasons with the Orioles, going 60-58 with a 4.72 ERA. He was the Orioles’ Opening Day starter three times.

Miller, 24, went 0-3 with 12 saves and a 3.86 ERA in 45 relief appearances for AA Tulsa in the Rockies system in 2006.  In 2005, he split the season between Tulsa and Class A Modesto and went 2-4 with 34 saves and a 3.02 ERA.  That season he was named the top reliever in the California League by Baseball America and won the Doug Million Award as the Rockies’ most outstanding minor league performer.  Miller was originally selected by Colorado in the 8^th round of the 2004 First Year Player Draft.

Burch, 24, also spent the 2006 season at Tulsa and went 3-4 with a 4.95 ERA in 45 relief appearances.  He went 7-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 49 relief appearances for Modesto in 2005.  Burch was acquired by Colorado along with two other minor league pitchers in exchange for Larry Walker in 2004.  Burch was drafted by St. Louis in the 21^st round of the 2003 First Year Player Draft in 2003.

Neither Miller nor Burch are currently on the 40-man roster.

The Houston Astros announced today that the club has signed outfielder Richard Hidalgo to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training. The announcement was made by General Manager Tim Purpura.

Hidalgo, 31, has hit .269 (929 for 3459) with 171 home runs and 560 RBI in 987 career big league games.  His most recent big league season was in 2005, when he hit .221 (68x308) with 16 home runs and 43 RBI for the Texas Rangers. 

Hidalgo was originally signed by the Astros as an undrafted free agent on July 2, 1991, and played eight Major League seasons with Houston from 1997-2004.  In 813 career games with the Astros, he hit .278 (787 for 2827) with 134 home runs and 465 runs batted in during those eight seasons. 

"We are very pleased to bring an original Astro and a former team MVP back to the organization,” said Purpura.  “For eight seasons, Richard was a constant force in our lineup, and we look forward to giving Richard the opportunity to attempt to earn a role on our club in 2007."

Hidalgo is currently playing for the Magallanes club in the Venezuelan Winter League managed by Astros Special Assistant to the General Manager/Latin American Operations Al Pedrique.  In 54 games for Magallanes, he has hit .273 (51 for 187) with nine home runs and 27 RBI, through games of January 10.  At that point, Hidalgo led the team in home runs, RBI, walks (31), runs scored (33), and hits (51).