Crimson Tide in the MLB: Offseason Moves
12/12/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
SAN DIEGO - On Thursday evening, Major League Baseball's 2014 Winter Meetings concluded with plenty of action taking place in California. The meetings ran from Dec. 7-11 and officially wrapped up the 2014 season. With a new year and a new season upon us, many former Crimson Tide standouts have cemented themselves with a team for the 2015 season and going forward.
Prior to the meetings, on Nov. 17, the Detroit Tigers picked up catcher Alex Avila's contract option for the 2015 season, ensuring the former Tide backstop another year under contract in Motown. Avila previously spent six seasons with the Tigers after being drafted by the team in the fifth round of the 2008 amateur draft. During his time in Detroit, Avila was voted to the 2011 MLB All-Star team and also earned the Silver Slugger Award for an American League catcher that season, owning a .295 average with 19 home runs and 82 RBI. He has played in 616 games and has been the primary catcher for the Tigers playoff teams in each of the last four seasons.
This past week in San Diego, two former Alabama greats were also on the move, infielder Josh Rutledge via trade and relief pitcher David Robertson as a free agent. Rutledge, the 2009 All-Southeastern Conference selection, was traded on Wednesday evening from the Colorado Rockies to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, while Robertson signed four-year deal with the Chicago White Sox.
Rutledge, who was originally drafted by the Rockies in the third round of the 2010 amateur draft, has played in 266 total games in the Majors across parts of three seasons. After perennial All-Star and starting shortstop Troy Tulowitzki went down part way through last season, Rutledge established himself on the Major League roster and helped stabilize the infield for Colorado, playing second, short and third base as needed. Known for his glove, Rutledge made numerous highlight-reel plays during 2014, but he also provided assistance with bat, owning a solid .269 average with 44 runs scored and 33 RBI across his 105 games played.
In one of the bigger moves of the 2014 Winter Meetings, Robertson, the former New York Yankee closer, left the Big Apple in exchange for the Southside of Chicago to join the White Sox. The Sox gave Robertson a four-year, $46 million contract which ranks as the largest contract ever signed by a former Alabama baseball player. Following the departure of Yankees all-time great Mariano Rivera after the 2013 season, Robertson established himself as one of the game's top closers last year, maintaining a 3.08 ERA (22 ER/64.1 IP) and collecting 39 saves to rank third in the American League in that category. Drafted by the Yankees in the 17th round of the 2006 amateur draft, Robertson has appeared in 402 career games and owns a 2.81 ERA (123 ER/393.1 IP) with 524 strikeouts during his seven seasons in the Bronx.
Alabama baseball begins its 2015 season with a weekend home series against the University of Maryland - Eastern Shore from Feb. 13-15 at the Tide's temporary home, The Hoover Met. Fans wishing to purchase tickets for this or any Alabama home games can contact the Alabama Ticket Office at www.RollTide.com, by calling 205-348-2262 or in person at the TIDE PRIDE/Ticket Office located inside Coleman Coliseum.
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