Pirates signed C Jose Morales to a minor league contract.

The deal includes an invite to spring training. Morales, who turns 29 in February, batted .267/.352/.317 with a .699 OPS over 71 plate appearances with the Rockies this past season before fracturing his right thumb in June. He'll compete for the backup catcher job behind Rod Barajas.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Pirates are close to an agreement with Jose Morales.

Morales batted just .267 with a .669 OPS in 71 plate appearances for the Rockies this year before fracturing his right thumb in June. He'll serve as depth for the Bucs.

Rockies sent C Jose Morales outright to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Morales batted .267/.352/.317 with three doubles, seven RBI and a .669 OPS over 71 plate appearances until fracturing his right thumb in mid-June. With Chris Iannetta, Wilin Rosario and Jordan Pacheco on the 40-man roster, he probably doesn't have a place with the team in 2012.

Jose Morales (thumb) is getting close to going out on a minor league rehab assignment.

Morales hasn't played since June 15 due to a fractured right thumb. He is still feeling some discomfort while swinging left-handed, but the Rockies are optimistic he will be able to return after rosters expand in September.

Troy Renck of the Denver Post writes that Jose Morales (thumb) could be back with the Rockies this month.

Morales has been sidelined since fracturing his right thumb in mid-June. It's not yet clear when he'll go out on a minor league rehab assignment. Eliezer Alfonzo will continue to serve as the primary backup to Chris Iannetta for now.

Jose Morales is expected to have the pins removed from his surgically-repaired right thumb.

Morales fractured his right thumb in mid-June when he was struck with a foul tip while playing behind the plate. There's no clear timetable for his return, but he could be back later this season.

Jose Morales underwent surgery on his fractured right thumb.

Morales broke his thumb when he was struck with a foul ball during last Wednesday's game against the Padres. Rockies manager Jim Tracy said Monday that he could return later this season. Matt Pagnozzi will serve as the backup to Chris Iannetta during his absence.

Rockies acquired C Jose Morales from the Twins for LHP Paul Bargas.

Morales, 27, should serve as Chris Iannetta's backup in Colorado next season. He posted a .194/.295/.250 batting line with zero homers, two doubles and seven RBI over 36 at-bats in 2010 for the Twins.

Jose Morales made his first career start at first base Wednesday and went 2-for-3 with a double, three RBI and a walk.

Morales was supposed to be Joe Mauer's backup this year, but he injured a wrist in the offseason, underwent surgery and then fell behind Drew Butera on the depth chart. As a result, he entered the day with just 19 major league at-bats this season. A far stronger hitter than Butera, he might yet work his way back into the Twins' plans for 2011. He's not likely to be on the postseason roster this year, though.

Twins recalled catcher Jose Morales from Triple-A Rochester.

The 27-year-old Morales hit .311/.381/.361 with seven RBI in 119 at-bats last season for the Twins but underwent surgery on his right wrist in late-January and saw defensive-minded Drew Butera snatch the back up job behind Joe Mauer. Morales hit .280/.373/.391 in 261 plate appearances for Rochester and will serve, for now, as the team's third catcher.

The Twins are expected to activate catcher Jose Morales (wrist) from the disabled list on Thursday and option him to Triple-A Rochester.

Twins general manager Bill Smith said he'll share at-bats with Wilson Ramos, who was sent back to the minors on Wednesday. "There will be enough at-bats and enough innings behind the plate for both of them," said Smith. "It's just like last year when we had Butera and Morales in Rochester, and both needed to catch." Morales was previous rehabbing his surgically-repaired right wrist in extended spring training.

Jose Morales, who is currently rehabbing from surgery on right wrist, experienced a setback by injuring his hip during an extended spring training game.

"He caught nine innings (at extended spring training), then DH'd and then has a little sore hip right now," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, "so we're going to back off a little bit." Morales was reaching the point where a minor league rehab stint was a possibility, but the Twins will treat him conservatively for now.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Jose Morales (wrist) isn't a lock to return as the club's backup catcher once he's healthy.

Morales is currently working his way back from surgery on his right wrist in January. "Morales, if he can't throw, he is not going to be able to be our backup catcher," said Gardenhire. "You have to be able to come up and throw somebody out. That's the bottom line. He had a bad wrist. His arm was hurting in Spring Training and we can't go through that." For Morales to replace current backup Drew Butera, he'll need to show the club that he can make strong throws behind the plate.