Red Sox acquire infielder Jonathan Herrera from Colorado Rockies

BOSTON, MA - The Boston Red Sox today acquired infielder Jonathan Herrera from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for left-handed pitcher Franklin Morales and minor league right-handed pitcher Chris Martin. 

Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcement.

Herrera, 29, posted a single-season career-high .292 batting average (57-for-195) with seven doubles, two triples, one home run, and 16 RBI in 81 games with the Rockies in 2013, his third consecutive season spent entirely on the major league roster. Over his final 57 games of the year beginning on June 4, Herrera hit .312 (44-for-141). The switch-hitter batted .317 (46-for-145) from the left side of the plate and hit .220 (11-for-50) against left-handed pitching.

Overall last season, he made 45 starts, including 28 at shortstop, 16 at second base, and one at third base. He also appeared in two games in left field, his first major league outfield experience.  

The native of Maracaibo, Venezuela is one of four major leaguers to appear in at least five games at shortstop, second base, and third base in each of the last four seasons. He owns a career .985 fielding percentage at second base (181 games), a .983 mark at shortstop (114 games), and has not committed an error in 43 career games at third base.

Originally signed by the Rockies as an international free agent in 2002, Herrera has appeared in 375 major league games in his career, all with Colorado over parts of five seasons (2008, 2010-13). He is a lifetime .265 hitter (261-for-984) in the big leagues with 28 doubles, seven triples, eight homers, 66 RBI, 87 walks, and 14 stolen bases.

Morales, 27, returns to the Rockies after appearing in 93 games (10 starts) over parts of three seasons with the Red Sox following a trade from Colorado in May 2011. He went 6-7 with one save and a 3.90 ERA (58 ER/134.0 IP) with Boston, including a 2-2 record with a 4.62 ERA (13 ER/25.1 IP) in 20 outings during the 2013 regular season (one start). Morales also pitched in three 2013 postseason games, allowing one run in 1.1 innings. In 195 major league outings in his career (25 starts) over parts of seven major league seasons with Colorado (2007-11) and Boston (2011-13), he is 13-18 with a 4.38 ERA and 242 strikeouts.

The 27-year-old Martin split the 2013 season pitching in relief between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket. He combined for a 5-3 record with five saves, a 2.25 ERA (18 ER/72.0 IP), and 74 strikeouts. The right-hander had his contract purchased by Boston from the Grand Prairie AirHogs of the independent American Association prior to the 2011 season. In three minor league seasons in the Red Sox system, he appeared in 88 games and made 13 starts, going 14-11 with nine saves, a 3.12 ERA (77 ER/222.1 IP), and 194 strikeouts.