The Rockies filled a big hole in their lineup Saturday, agreeing to terms with left-handed reliever Alan Embree.
Embree, projected as a late-inning set-up man, agreed to a one-year, $2.25 million deal with a mutual option for 2010.
In another roster move, the club re-signed infielder Jonathan Herrera to a minor-league deal. The Rockies had non-tendered Herrera on Friday night.
Embree, 38, went 2-5 with a 4.96 ERA in 70 appearances for Oakland last season. In 2007, Embree took over the closer’s role in Oakland for the injured Huston Street, notching 17 saves. Street joined the Rockies last month in the Matt Holliday trade.
Embree caught the Rockies’ eye with his effective 2006 season when he went 4-3 with a 3.27 ERA in 73 games for San Diego.Embree has pitched in two World Series, in 1995 for the runner-up Indians and in 2004 for the World Series champion Red Sox. The Rockies become Embree’s 10th big-league team.
The Rockies, with one spot open on their 40-man roster, remain interested in signing right-handed starter Tim Redding, who wasn’t offered a contract by Washington on Friday.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
