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Royals Land Lefty Jorge de la Rosa

July 26, 2006
KANSAS CITY, MO - The Kansas City Royals have acquired left-handed pitcher Jorge de la Rosa from the Milwaukee Brewers for infielder Tony Graffanino, Royals Senior Vice President-Baseball Operations/General Manager Dayton Moore announced Tuesday.

De la Rosa, 25, has been on the 15-day Disabled List since June 10 with a blister on his left ring finger and has been on a rehab assignment with Huntsville (AA) since June 29. Prior to his injury, he compiled a 2-2 record and an 8.60 ERA (30.1 IP, 32 H, 29 ER) in 18 games (3 starts) for the Brewers. He spent his first full season at the Major Leagues in 2005, posting a 2-2 record and a 4.46 ERA in 38 relief appearances, allowing 48 hits and 21 earned runs in 42.1 innings of work. He made his Major League debut in 2004, making five appearances.

As a member of the Red Sox system, de la Rosa played in the 2003 Futures Game and posted a 6-3 record with a 2.80 ERA in 22 games (20 starts) for Portland (AA). He was also 1-2 with a 3.75 ERA in five games for Pawtucket (AAA) that season.

The Royals will mark the fourth organization for de la Rosa, as he was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by Arizona in 1998. He was a member of the Red Sox system from 2001-02 until he was traded back to the D-Backs on Nov. 28, 2003. Arizona dealt him to Milwaukee just days later along with Chad Moeller, Craig Counsell, Lyle Overbay, Junior Spivey and Chris Capuano for Richie Sexson, Shane Nance and Noochie Varner.

Graffanino was hitting .268 (59-220) in 69 games for the Royals with 16 doubles, five homers and 32 RBI. Graffanino, who was in his second stint with Kansas City, was claimed off waivers from the Boston Red Sox on March 28. Last season he was traded on July 19 to the Red Sox in exchange for OF Chip Ambres.

For more information, contact the Kansas City RoyalsMedia Relations Department at (816) 921-8000.