Rockies acquire LHP Franklin Morales and RHP Chris Martin
Club sends INF Jonathan Herrera to Boston to complete deal
DENVER - The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club has acquired left-handed pitcher Franklin Morales and Minor League right-handed pitcher Chris Martin from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for infielder Jonathan Herrera.
Morales, 27, will return to the organization that originally signed him as a non-drafted free agent out of Venezuela in 2002. Morales spent his first eight-plus professional seasons in the Rockies organization, including spending time in the Majors from 2007-2011, during which time he went 7-11 with a 4.83 ERA (147.1 ip, 79 er) in 102 games/15 starts. Morales has spent the last two-plus seasons in Boston (2011-13), during which time he went 6-7 with a 3.90 ERA (134.0 ip, 58 er) in 93 games/10 starts. In 2013, Morales went 2-2 with a 4.62 ERA (25.1 ip, 13 er) in 20 games/one start as a member of the World Champion Red Sox. Overall in his career, the left-hander is 13-18 with 11 saves and a 4.38 ERA (281.1 ip, 137 er) in 195 games/25 starts. Morales has held left-handed hitters to a .194 (65-for-335) opponents average in his career.
Martin, 27, split his 2013 season between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket, going 5-3 with a 2.25 ERA (72.0 ip, 18 er), 16 walks and 74 strikeouts in 42 appearances. Martin originally signed as a Minor League free agent by Boston prior to the 2011 season. In 88 career Minor League games and 222.1 innings, all in the Red Sox organization, Martin owns a 3.12 ERA with 194 strikeouts compared to just 47 walks. Martin pitched for Grand Prairie in the independent American Association in 2010 prior to signing with Boston.
Herrera, 29, spent the entire 2013 season in the Majors with the Rockies and in 81 games batted .292 (57-for-195) with 7 doubles, 2 triples, a home run, 16 RBI and 16 runs. He started 45 games overall, playing second base (22 games, 16 starts), third base (5 games, 1 start), shortstop (42 games, 28 starts) and left field (2 games). In five seasons with Colorado, Herrera was a career .265 (261-for-984) hitter in 375 games.
The Rockies currently have a full 40-man roster.