The San Diego Padres have signed catcher
Yorvit Torrealba to a one-year deal.
Torrealba, whose $4 million option was declined by Colorado shortly after the
end of the season, appeared in just 64 games last season for the Rockies and
hit a career-best .291.
The 31-year-old backstop endured a tumultuous season, as he got off to a slow
start then had to miss a month of the season due to the kidnapping of his son
and brother-in-law in his native Venezuela.
Once he returned though, he became the Rockies' best clutch hitter over the
final three months and hit .324 after the All-Star break. He was also 5-for-14
with a home run and four RBI in Colorado's NLDS loss to the Philadelphia
Phillies.
Torrealba started his career in 2001 with San Francisco before being moved to
Seattle in 2005. However, he had found a home in Colorado, hitting .258 with
23 home runs and 152 RBI in 312 games in a Rockies uniform.
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