07/05/2005 9:50 PM ET
Notes: Almanza joins D-Backs
Lefty reliever Lopez designated for assignment
By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com
PHOENIX -- The Diamondbacks continued to tweak their bullpen in search of the right combination when they purchased the contract of left-hander Armando Almanza on Tuesday and designated Javier Lopez for assignment.
Almanza took a circuitous route to Bank One Ballpark. He began the year with Triple-A Fresno in the Giants' organization, but he was released on April 14 after making two appearances. The D-Backs signed him a week later and assigned him to Double-A Tennessee, where he made six appearances.
The Diamondbacks promoted him to Tucson, where after two outings he was released, only to re-sign on May 30. Overall, he was 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in 15 appearances for Tucson.
"Javy really got off to a hot start for us and was that guy that we bring in for a particular left-hander, and as of late we weren't getting a whole lot of results," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "Reports from our people in Triple-A were that Almanza not only gets lefties out, he gets righties out."
Almanza has made 284 big league appearances since making his debut with the Marlins in 1999. He was asked if he was surprised when he got the news Monday night.
"Yeah, considering I had been passed up a couple times," Almanza said. "I didn't know when I was going to get called up."
Whereas Lopez was limited to just facing lefties, Melvin feels that with a 94 mph fastball, sharp curve and changeup, Almanza can also get right-handers out.
"Almanza's here in a role similar to what Javy had," Melvin said. "Yet we feel like we can run him through three or four hitters and pitch an inning."
