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.