Rockies acquire pitcher from A’s, designate Deduno
The Colorado Rockies have acquired right-handed pitcher Clayton Mortenson from the Oakland Athletics for minor-league pitcher Ethan Hollingsworth. To make room on the 40-man roster, the team designated pitcher Samuel Deduno for assignment.
Mortenson, 25, was a supplemental first-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2007 and was later traded to the A’s as part of the deal that sent former Rockie Matt Holliday to the Cardinals. Mortenson made one start for the A’s in 2010 and has made might career appearances — seven starts — between his time with the Cardinals and the A’s, going 2-4 with a 7.12 ERA. At Triple-A Sacramento in 2010, Mortenson was 13-6 with a 4.25 ERA in 26 starts. He was rated the 10th-best prospect in the A’s system before the 2010 season.
He as was designated for assignment by the A’s last week when they signed Grant Balfour.
Hollingsworth, 23, was drafted by the Rockies in the fourth round of the 2009 draft. He pitched primarily at high Class-A Modesto in 2010, where he was 12-8 with a 3.31 ERA in 25 starts. He also made two starts at Double-A Tulsa where he was 0-0 with a 9.58 ERA.
Deduno, 27, made his major-league debut with the Rockies last season after an injury-plagued rise through the minor-league system. A starter most of his minor-league career, the Rockies viewed him as a reliever in the majors, which is how he was used in four appearances late in the 2010 season. He had a 3.38 ERA in 2 2/3 innings.
Beyond the deal itself, interesting that Matt Holliday again comes into play here.
Not sure how Mortenson will be used. He has been a starter so far, but as Baseball America’s suggested in its scouting report on him in last year’s Prospect Handbook, he’s a sinker-slider guy who could be a setup man. Haven’t gotten this year’s handbook yet, so not sure where he ranked in the A’s organization, only that he wasn’t in the Top 10.
Interesting move. Not sure what to think about it. I think of all the names you mentioned Steve, the Rockies should have signed Grant Balfour. :>)
So what’s next for Deduno? Similar deal to the A’s, where a team trades the Rockies a middling prospect with not enough service time to be added to the roster? Outright release? Or can he accept an assignment to the Sky Sox.
Deduno’s got a live arm, so I’m sure there will be interest for him.
Steve Foster, question. It is being alleged the Rockies have no interest in Beimel. The DP is being sourced. Have you heard this?
If Deduno clears waivers, he has an option left so he’s not definitely gone yet. Given his history of arm trouble, there’s no guarantee another team will pick him up and give him a spot on the 40-man roster. We’ll have to wait and see if there’s any interest.
Balfour would have been nice but not at the cost of a first-round draft pick.
Haven’t heard that they have no interest, but I would be very surprised to see the Rockies sign him. I believe they’ve moved on from Beimel.
It would have been nice to see Deduno get his shot. He really had some nasty stuff out there, particularlly with his breaking ball. Clearly he’s had some major injuries if he’s 27 and had only 2 2/3 innings MLB service time. I guess this means he’s gone via waivers or he’ll be traded, since he’s been designated. It’ll be interesting to see how this Mortenson guy pans out.
I assume that Mortenson has an option.
Did we trade away a guy who was ever going to be a Rockie?
I hope that we haven’t seen the last of Deduno. I thought that he had potential.
Hollingsworth was a solid prospect but probably a middle reliever in the majors at best. Mortenson has a higher ceiling even if he ends up in the pen. Deduno has a good arm, but he’s 27 and doesn’t have a clear role in the Rockies bullpen, so while it would be nice to see the Rockies able to keep him as insurance, if he ends up elsewhere it might be better for him.
By my count Mortenson should have one option left.
Sure seems like Rox do a lot of wheeling and dealing with the A’s. Does DOD have a good relationship with one of the A’s brass?
As for Beimel, I just don’t get it? He’s been nothing but solid playing for the Rockies and I for one would love to see him back. Did he tick one of the top brass off or what? And I believe his asking price would be pretty reasonable.
I get it that Reynolds should be solid and they pretty much have to keep Moralas on the roster (or trade for nothing/risk losing him). That equals one dependable lefty in the pen. Could Moralas turn in a good year? I guess-he’s done it in the past but I would frankly be surprised if he is still with the big club at the end of the year. The Rox have done a good job this offseason to acquire depth for most positions but IMO, this looks like a glaring weakness just waiting to rear it’s ugly head (like the catcher position).
At this point, how many decent lefty relievers are available, and how many teams are looking for a lefty reliever? Do the Rockies think that if they wait long enough, a decent lefty reliever will fall their way pretty inexpensively (perhaps even a minor league contract)?
With Rex Brothers close to the majors, not sure that the Rockies are looking for a left-handed reliever at all. The team is confident in Reynolds and will give Morales every chance to win a job in spring training because he’s out of options. If Morales doesn’t win the job, the Rockies could look to make a move during spring training, turn to someone like Eric Stults, who they signed to a minor-league deal, or simply go with one lefty until Brothers is ready.
Why does Mortesen have a higher ceiling? That better be a heckuva sinker, he doesn’t strike anyone out in the minors.
I don’t know about Hollingsworth’s stuff or general athletic ability (which figure to be pretty important at his stage of development) but back to back 4:1 K:BB ration is fairly impressive.
I say Mortenson has a higher ceiling because he’s a former first-round draft pick, was ranked by Baseball America as the Cardinals No. 8 prospect in 2008, No. 6 in 2009 and the A’s No. 15 in 2010 and received an invitation to spring training with the Cardinals the first spring after being drafted. Hollingsworth, while a solid prospect, has never been regarded as highly. Mortenson could be a solid starter or an impact reliever.
Hollingsworth is a solid prospect with good command, but he has pitched only two games above Class-A. His future path is still very much in question. Mortenson is more advanced with better stuff, that’s what it comes down to.
Steve-
I would assume he won’t have to do an awful lot in ST to make the roster. What will the Rockies do with Morales if he is just plain awful in ST? Would they cut him loose and get nothing for him or would they keep him on the roster until they could atleast trade him (probably wouldn’t get much for him at that point???)?
I wouldn’t say that Morales won’t have a lot to do — he certainly has to prove that he can hold down the job, but the point you were touching on is Morales probably starts in a default position because of the options situation. If he doesn’t make the team and he’s healthy, the Rockies will be forced to trade him. There’s no way he would get through waivers so rather that lose him for nothing by releasing him, the Rockies would look to get something in return. At the end of spring training, a lot of teams have players who don’t fit on the roster — that’s how the Rockies picked up Jason Hammel before the 2009 season — so there’s an opportunity to trade him for someone like that who doesn’t fit elsewhere or pick up a decent prospect. There would certainly be enough interest in Morales that the Rockies wouldn’t have to convince someone to take him, but they would be selling low at that point, no question. That said, I tend to agree with rockymountainhigh over in this other thread that Morales could be a big surprise this year.
Mortensen will actually quality for a fourth option year in 2012, so there’s time for him there. Mortensen was drafted in 2007, played only a partial Year. Full years 2008-2010, even a full year in 2011 will give him only four “full pro seasons”, one under the five as defined necessary for options to run out.
Thanks again, Greg. Forgot about the full pro season rules.