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Rockies exercise team option on RHP LaTroy Hawkins

Matt McBride outrighted off 40-man roster

The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club has exercised its team option on right-handed pitcher LaTroy Hawkins for the 2015 season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, per club policy. Additionally, infielder/outfielder Matt McBride has been outrighted off the 40-man roster.

Hawkins, 41, will return to Colorado in 2015 for what will be his 21st season in Major League Baseball. The right-hander from Gary, IN spent the 2014 season as the Rockies closer, going 23-for-26 in save opportunities. Overall in 2014, Hawkins was 4-3 with a 3.31 ERA (54.1 ip, 20 er), 13 walks and 32 strikeouts in 57 games. Hawkins' 57th appearance of the season was also his 1,000th career game pitched, allowing him to become the 16th pitcher in MLB history to appear in at least 1,000 games. Of the 16 pitchers to make at least 1,000 appearances, Hawkins 98 career starts are the 2nd-most, behind only Hall-of-Famer Dennis Eckersley (361 starts).

Hawkins' 23 saves were his most since he had 25 saves in 2004 for the Chicago Cubs. His 23 saves in 2014 were tied for 14th in the NL. The 2014 season also marked the 13th time in Hawkins career that he has pitched in at least 50 games. Hawkins is the only active pitcher in the 1,000-game club, and the only active Major Leaguer with at least 800 career games pitched (Francisco Rodriguez is 2nd - 799 games). The 2015 season will mark Hawkins' third with the Rockies, as he also donned the purple pinstripes in 2007. The Rockies are one of 10 MLB teams in which he has pitched for, a list that includes the Minnesota Twins (1995-2003), Chicago Cubs (2004-05), San Francisco Giants (2005), Baltimore Orioles (2006), New York Yankees (2008), Houston Astros (2008-09), Milwaukee Brewers (2010-11), Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2012) and New York Mets (2013).

The Rockies currently have a full 40-man roster.

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