According to the team's official Twitter feed, the Colorado Rockies made their second transaction on Monday when they traded minor league pitchers Ethan Hollingsworth to the Oakland Athletics for Clayton Mortensen. In order to create space on their 40-man roster, the Rockies designated Samuel Deduno for assignment.
Mortensen is a 25-year-old right-handed pitcher who spent 2010 with Oakland's Triple-A club, the Sacramento River Cats. He went 13-6 in 26 starts with a 4.25 ERA and 1.294 WHIP. He had 112 strikeouts in 165 1/3 innings. He received a spot start in the majors on July 3 against the Cleveland Indians. He allowed four runs in six innings and struck out seven batters on his way to a no-decision. Mortensen will be ticketed for Triple-A and make up for the loss of Chaz Roe.
Ethan Hollingsworth was selected in the fourth round of the 2008 MLB draft by the Rockies. He spent most of 2010 with the Modesto Nuts (12-8, 3.31 ERA), but received a promotion to Double-A Tulsa at the end of the season. He would have returned to Modesto had the Rockies kept him.
Samuel Deduno spent the end of August and then September with the Rockies, pitching in 2 2/3 innings in four games. Deduno has been beset with a number of arm injuries and missed most of the 2010 season. He has also had experienced command issues. It appears the Rockies are ready to move on from Deduno, 27, with the acquisition of Mortensen.