The Rockies' ongoing search for right-handed hitters who can play the corner positions led them Wednesday to acquire outfielder Matt Murton from the Oakland Athletics for speedy minor league infielder-outfielder Corey Wimberly.

Murton, 27, began his major league career with the Chicago Cubs in 2005. He was traded to the Athletics last season in the six-player deal that sent pitcher Rich Harden to the Cubs.

Murton, who has one minor league option remaining, played only 28 games in the majors last year, going 13-for-70. In 317 games in the majors, Murton has a .288 career average with 26 home runs and 106 RBI.

General manager Dan O'Dowd commended Murton for spending this winter in Venezuela, where he might have gotten back on course. He hit .321 (17-for-53) in 15 games for Caracas with two homers, six RBI and a .463 on-base percentage.

O'Dowd said the Rockies were looking for a younger player who had shown signs of potentially becoming a good major league player but had regressed and might go forward in the Rockies environment.

The Rockies have a host of left-handed hitters among their outfield candidates, including Seth Smith, Ian Stewart, Carlos Gonzalez, Scott Podsednik and Brad Hawpe and switch hitter Dexter Fowler.

As far as the Rockies' right-handed-hitting outfielders, Ryan Spilborghs has the most experience. Also, they signed Dan Ortmeier, 27, who played 124 games the past four seasons with San Francisco, and have invited him to camp along with Matt Miller, 26, who hit a combined .341 last season at Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Colorado Springs with 10 homers and 107 RBI in 139 games.

"That's been an area of focus this winter, trying to add a couple of right-handed bats into our mix," O'Dowd said. "So between Matt Miller and Ortmeier and this young man, who all will come to camp, we'll begin to sort out if they are complementary players or not players or guys that have a chance to be every- day players."