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The enigmatic reliever was never able to harness his pitches and will now attempts a revival in Boston.
Almost as soon as the Rockies' trade of Franklin Morales broke, speculation began that the Rockies might call up Triple-A reliever Rex Brothers. Instead, the Rockies decided to recall Matt Daley, who has major league experience, in order to give Brothers more time in the minors.
Daley, an undrafted free agent, made his major league debut in 2009 and pitched in 57 games for the Rockies, He posted a 4.24 ERA and a 1.196 WHIP, gaining an early advantage with his deceptive delivery. In 2010, he missed a good portion of the season with an inflamed right shoulder, pitching in just 28 games. He has a 6.28 in 17 innings for the Triple-A Sky Sox this season.
Brothers, the subject of call up speculation already, has 37 strikeouts in 20.2 innings and has over four strikeouts for every walk he issues. While Daley relies on deception, Brothers can pump 97 mph fastballs at opposing hitters.
With Morales gone, this opens up a spot on the 40-man roster, but Daley is already there so no other move has been made yet, The spot could be kept open for Aaron Cook when he comes of the 60-day disabled list.
For more on this move and the Colorado Rockies, visit Purple Row.
On Thursday night, the Colorado Rockies traded lefty reliever Franklin Morales to the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later or cash. Morales will join the Red Sox bullpen in place of Hideki Okajima, who was designated for assignment to create room on the roster.
Morales appeared in 14 games for the Rockies in 2011, but continued to exhibit his inability to find the strike zone. He had 11 strikeouts and 8 walks in 14 innings. Morales first emerged in the majors in 2007 during the Rockies' Rocktober run, but he was never able to command his high-90s fastball after that. However, in 2009 he did fill in adequately as the team's closer for the month of September.
Inside The Rockies reports that the Rockies will have Matt Daley take Morales' spot in the bullpen. However, Troy Renck reports that Jim Tracy believes Rex Brothers' time is close.
For more on this move and the Colorado Rockies, visit Purple Row.
Rockies Talked With Pirates Before Trading Franklin Morales To Red Sox, According To Report
With Franklin Morales struggling this season with his pitches, it was clear that the Rockies weren't going to stick with him much longer. But this deal could have been completed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to Troy Renck, though there is no indication that anything was ever close between the two clubs.
Renck writes that lefty Joe Beimel wouldn't have been sent back to the Rockies had a deal materialized, but rather a prospect. Beimel had been with the Rockies for the last two months of 2009 and then was re-signed by the Rockies late in Spring Training 2010. After posting a 3.40 ERA in 45 games, the Rockies decided to pass on bringing back Beimel in 2011, hoping that Franklin Morales had matured.
Given that the Rockies have acquired either a player to be named later or cash considerations, the Pirates would likely have also sent something similar to Colorado.
For more on this move and the Colorado Rockies, visit Purple Row.
May 20 8:39a by Russ Oates