Garneau optioned, Wolters, Raburn make Opening Day roster

The Colorado Rockies have optioned catcher Dustin Garneau to Triple-A Albuquerque and will keep catcher Tony Wolters and utility man Ryan Raburn on their active roster for opening day. Wolters and Raburn were both acquired earlier this year. Wolters was selected off of waivers by the Rockies from Cleveland while Raburn signed a minor league deal.

Today the #Rockies made the following transactions: pic.twitter.com/jEGk1ncCdd

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) March 29, 2016

Wolters a career minor leaguer with the Indians Organization is a left-handed hitting catcher that has also played shortstop and second base. In 2015, the 23-year-old spent the season at Double-A Akron where he hit .209/.290/.280 in 65 games. Walters has had a very good spring hitting .407 and for a 1.132 OPS in 27 plate appearances.

Raburn, a former Tiger and Indian has played corner outfield, second base and third base over the course of his 10 years in the big leagues. The soon-to-be 35-year-old will make $1.5 million this season. Raburn has made a name for himself for his extreme first half to second half of the season splits, in fact, he’s one of the most volatile hitters in MLB history. He has amassed 5.5 WAR over his 10 seasons, highlighted by his 2013 season where he hit 16 home runs, drove in 55 and OPS’d .901 in 87 games. The right-hander will likely be the super utility guy coming off of the Rockies bench.

Garneau, the 28-year-old who made his big league debut last season will start the year in the minors. Last season he played in 22 games for the Rockies and in 81 for the Isotopes. He never really got it going as a big leaguer last year and he struggled a bit this spring.