The Kansas City Royals have acquired right-handed pitcher Ramon Ramirez from the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named. To make room for Ramirez on the 40-man roster, the Royals have designated left-handed pitcher Jorge De La Rosa for assignment. The 26-year old Ramirez struggled with an elbow injury in 2007 after being voted the Rockies' Rookie of the Year in 2006, when he was 4-3 with a 3.46 ERA in 61 appearances out of the bullpen, establishing Rockies' rookie reliever records in ERA and strikeouts (61). That same year, he was the Rockies' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award. Last year, he was 2-2 with an 8.31 ERA in 22 relief outings for Colorado and 4-0 with a 2.28 ERA in 25 appearances with Triple-A Colorado Springs. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder has had his troubles in the thin air of Coors Field, but is 4-0 with a 1.08 ERA (33.1 IP, 26 H, 4 ER) in 37 appearances on the road. He began his Major League career with 15.1 consecutive scoreless innings. Originally signed as an outfielder in 1996, he converted to pitcher and spent the 2002 season with Hiroshima in the Japanese Central League. The Yankees acquired him the following season before the Rockies traded for him and pitcher Eduardo Sierra in exchange for Shawn Chacon on July 28, 2005. Born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Ramirez now resides in Los Limones.

The Kansas City Royals traded first baseman/outfielder Justin Huber to the San Diego Padres in exchange for a player to be named. Huber, 25, has made brief appearances in the Majors with the Royals the past three seasons after being acquired from the New York Mets on July 30, 2004.

The Kansas City Royals have acquired right-handed pitcher Brad Salmon from the Cincinnati Reds for a player to be named. The 28-year-old Salmon, a native of Cantonment, Florida, made his Major League debut with Cincinnati in 2007, going 0-1 with a 4.13 ERA in 26 appearances, all in relief. Salmon also appeared in 37 games with Triple-A Louisville in 2007, finishing 2-2 with a 3.56 ERA and 4 saves. He holds a career mark of 50-40 with a 4.12 ERA over 325 minor league appearances, including 77 starts. Salmon has been used primarily as a reliever since the 2003 season. He has spent his entire career in the Reds' organization after being selected by Cincinnati in the 21st round of the 1999 June Free Agent Draft. The move will not affect the Royals' 40-man roster.