Rockies Acquire Mortensen for Hollingsworth, Deduno Designated
by Greg Stanwood on Jan 24, 2011 5:40 PM MST
in Transactions & Rumors
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PrintThe Rockies have acquired right handed starting pitcher Clay Mortensen from Oakland in exchange for minor league starter Ethan Hollingsworth, the Rockies announced via Twitter earlier this evening. Mortensen, who was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round as a sandwich pick in the 2007 draft, was designated for assignment by the Athletics last week. The pitcher was part of the package that wound up sending former Rockie Matt Holliday to St. Louis in July 2009.
Mortensen has had only a small taste of MLB play, having started seven games for the Cardinals and Athletics over the past two years. He has an option year remaining on his contract, and will most likely be joining the AAA rotation to start the season.
RHP Samuel Deduno was designated for assignment to clear room for Mortensen on the 40 Man Roster. While still considered a prospect, Deduno was slow to develop and was older than most of the pitching talent in the upper levels of the organization. He was listed as the #28 PuRP upon Purple Row's last prospect polling. Deduno represented part of a major talent crowding of pitching at the AAA level. Deduno must be traded, waived or released within the next ten days.
#29 PuRP Ethan Hollingsworth, who spent most of 2010 with the A+ Modesto Nuts with a taste at AA Tulsa, went to Oakland in the deal.
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Yeah,
Mortensen makes up for Chaz Roe.
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First" - 1st Infantry Division Motto
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There was already crowding at the AAA level for SP spots.
Not sure I like the “replace Chaz Roe” thing people are throwing around.
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"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates
by Greg Stanwood on Jan 24, 2011 5:49 PM MST up reply actions
I think there is always crowding for AAA spots
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jan 24, 2011 5:56 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
Not often between four starters on the 40 man roster.
At least not for us over the past four years.
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"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates
by Greg Stanwood on Jan 24, 2011 5:58 PM MST up reply actions
Considering he's likely to almost literally be replacing Deduno in that rotation...
… if there’s any replacement to Chaz Roe, it’s Reynolds being promoted from AA IMO.
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"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates
by Greg Stanwood on Jan 24, 2011 6:07 PM MST up reply actions
So hard to tell what's going on here ...
On the basis of raw numbers it doesn’t make much sense. Two capable arms with ML potential for one with a great arm but poor performance in both MLB and MiLB. But it might be about off field stuff, or bad medicals (in Deduno’s case) or someone in the org saw this guy throw last year and thought the Rox could find the magic. Impossible to judge really.
by BostonTransplant on Jan 24, 2011 5:58 PM MST via mobile reply actions
Probably several of the above.
Mortensen may be viewed as better depth below Rogers and Paulino than Reynolds and Deduno were, and somebody in the organization probably took notice of him specifically when he became available via designation and suggested the move.
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"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates
by Greg Stanwood on Jan 24, 2011 6:00 PM MST up reply actions
Could also be ...
About de-clogging the AA level in prep for the studs on their way there, basically the ROX saying Hollinsworth isn’t going to make the bigs, and the innings are needed for others. Deduno’s just a casualty of the 40 man, another guy who won’t make the bigs.
by BostonTransplant on Jan 24, 2011 6:08 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
AA level seems less of a clog
There could have easily been room for Hollingsworth there, even with Friedrich being held back. He’d be displacing a Brandon Durden type only.
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"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates
by Greg Stanwood on Jan 24, 2011 6:16 PM MST up reply actions
any opinions on Ethan Hollingsworth?
I personally think mortensen could be serviceable back end sp, BA ranked him with best changeup in system, good sinker. But with pitchers like harden, mccarthy, ross, outman, moscosco ahead of him, A’s buried him in the depth chart
Meh
Not really going to impact anything. Basically swapped two arms most likely destined for long relief/7th inning duty and dropped a 28 year old prospect with constant arm issues.
how good is Hollingsworth anyway?
Hoping RG will come soon and give her take on the trade
I'm GoRockies!! everybody :P
by CentralCaliRox on Jan 24, 2011 6:48 PM MST up reply actions
Hollingsworth teamed with Juan Nicasio to be the top 2 starting pitchers at Modesto last season..
he’s climbed steadily within the organization posting a consistent 8k’s per 9 innings pitched. He had similar numbers to Nicasio, but he was a year younger. He was lit up in 2 games in Tulsa last season before being sent back down. If I remember correctly he was only called up to cover for an injured Tulsa pitcher. But he failed to produce right away and was sent back to Modesto. He was probably slated to start in Tulsa this season.
@charliedrysdale
He's decent. He doesn't have a standout pitch, but he's got a deep repertoire
with a change, slider and curve all being functional as well as two FB’s. The command isn’t quite what you’d like to see yet, but he’s improving. I hear it’s better than it was at Asheville where he got hit pretty hard. He should be serviceable as a bottom of the rotation starter in a couple of years.
since Greg Smith was removed from the 40man, the acquisition of Mortensen brings the number of players on our 40man who once were traded for Matt Holliday back up to 3
Mortensen was drafted directly in front of Travis d’Arnaud and Brett Cecil
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jan 24, 2011 6:53 PM MST via mobile reply actions
It'll be interesting if Greg Smith makes it as the 5th starter for the Sky Sox.
The two will be together in one rotation.
RockiesRoster.com - Your best source for organizational contract and transactions information.
"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates
by Greg Stanwood on Jan 24, 2011 6:54 PM MST up reply actions
Wow, Greg Smith has fallen far the past 2 years.
I'm GoRockies!! everybody :P
by CentralCaliRox on Jan 24, 2011 6:54 PM MST up reply actions
To be fair, a lot of others have grown too.
But being kicked off the 40 man is bound to set you back a ways. Smith’s best advantage going into that battle is that he’s pretty much the only lefty in it. Only other one is Eric Stults, and he’s probably headed to Japan if he doesn’t make the Rockies.
RockiesRoster.com - Your best source for organizational contract and transactions information.
"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates
by Greg Stanwood on Jan 24, 2011 6:57 PM MST up reply actions
David Oh No just tweeted
That the Rockies essentially acquired Ethan Hollingsworth two years into the future and that he needs to work his sinker more. For what its worth
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jan 24, 2011 6:57 PM MST via mobile reply actions
Was about to post that for CCR above.
Mortensen will be difficult to maneuver contractually, but there’s worse depth options. Rogers, Reynolds and Mortensen will all be running out of options together next year, with likely only one spot at best that is also going to see the likes of Christian Friedrich in competition.
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"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates
by Greg Stanwood on Jan 24, 2011 6:59 PM MST up reply actions
Oh, snap.
Mortensen is a fourth option candidate, much like the other two are this year.
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"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates
by Greg Stanwood on Jan 24, 2011 7:05 PM MST up reply actions
That's what I thought.
More immediate depth.
I'm GoRockies!! everybody :P
by CentralCaliRox on Jan 24, 2011 7:00 PM MST up reply actions
What is David OhNo's twitter?
I’d like to follow him.
I'm GoRockies!! everybody :P
by CentralCaliRox on Jan 24, 2011 7:02 PM MST up reply actions
RockiesRoster.com - Your best source for organizational contract and transactions information.
"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates
by Greg Stanwood on Jan 24, 2011 7:03 PM MST up reply actions
Thanks Wolf
I'm GoRockies!! everybody :P
by CentralCaliRox on Jan 24, 2011 7:37 PM MST up reply actions
Lookout Landing has called this the "Whitest Trade of All Time"
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2011/1/24/1954240/the-whitest-trade-of-all-time
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jan 24, 2011 7:06 PM MST via mobile reply actions
Not white enough.
Neither went to Phillips Exeter Academy.
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First" - 1st Infantry Division Motto
SB Nation Denver - The regional hub for Denver sports!
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
too bad one of the pitchers wasn't named
Craig Robinson. Nothing’s whiter than that…
"These are thin mints. I put them in the freezer. My favorites. So good."
--Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, on the girl scout cookies he keeps in his locker
Dangit, I am not happy about this..
Ethan Hollingsworth was one of my favorite minor league prospects.
_
@charliedrysdale
why is that?
I'm GoRockies!! everybody :P
by CentralCaliRox on Jan 24, 2011 7:34 PM MST up reply actions
Because of what I posted above..
and he’s from Joliet, Illinois. Just like my Civil War veteran ancestor.
@charliedrysdale
I don't know where you are getting your info
but I don’t think that little girl fought in the Civil War
For some reason the girl in purple doesn’t look too happy. Possibly the way Charlie77 was feeling when he got this news?
You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the goddamn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all. ~Earl Weaver
Baseball fans love numbers. They love to swirl them around their mouths like Bordeaux wine. ~Pat Conroy
JFK
Stewart's arbitration status is still up in the air.
Which kind of irks me. Hearing could be coming up, and you always want to avoid any bad blood between player and team.
I'm GoRockies!! everybody :P
Hearing is at least one week away and could be as many as four.
I won’t worry about it until they’re actually in the arbitration panel.
RockiesRoster.com - Your best source for organizational contract and transactions information.
"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates
by Greg Stanwood on Jan 24, 2011 7:50 PM MST up reply actions
Makes sense.
I'm GoRockies!! everybody :P
by CentralCaliRox on Jan 24, 2011 10:39 PM MST up reply actions
For a second, I thought we traded for Aragorn.
Worshiping the holy trinity of Cargo, Tulo, and Ubaldo
Son of Arathorn
He’d be a 2nd generation player.
Is it ApRil yet?
Any number above zero is way too many days before Pitchers and Catchers Reports
Lemme try that again.
<3LordoftheRings<3
I'm GoRockies!! everybody :P
by CentralCaliRox on Jan 24, 2011 10:39 PM MST up reply actions
Deduno DFA'ed
instead of Escalona? After his failure to run over to 1B on a grounder to the right side and then being late to come to the ball park the next day, how come Escalona is still on the 40-man roster????
by Rocky Mountain High on Jan 24, 2011 11:53 PM MST reply actions
Because one rookie mistake is rarely reason enough to ditch a player.
Being 2 years older than your best competition is.
RockiesRoster.com - Your best source for organizational contract and transactions information.
"The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others." - Socrates
by Greg Stanwood on Jan 25, 2011 12:24 AM MST up reply actions
sorry everybody, I was sick yesterday...
I think the key difference between Hollingsworth and Mortensen is the two seam FB. Mortensen’s sinker is quite a bit ahead of Hollingsworth’s, and so I think that’s probably why the Rockies went ahead with this trade. That said, I don’t know if it’s a big enough difference to potentially give up two quality pitchers for the upgrade in a 6th to 8th starter. If the Rockies are able to hang on to Deduno or trade him for somebody else, it might be worth it, but right now, I can see the upgrade in the present, but question if it was really necessary.
Isn't this just "you can't have too much pitching"?
Neither Deduno nor Hollingsworth was going to be a ML starter this year.
Neither Cook nor Hammel was able to go a full season last year.
Paulino’s probably headed for a long relief role, not starting.
Rogers as a starter has not yet shown consistency.
So have a AAAA starting pitcher ready is probably the thinking.
TuLO + UbalDO + CarGO = LODO GO
I don't know if Deduno was that far away from being a MLB starter.
It was only six starts, but a 2.93 ERA at Colorado Springs was phenomenal. He has too many control issues still, so I’m guessing the Rockies saw a floor there that was considerably lower than Mortensen’s, but overall, I’m skeptical.
I remember when Deduno pitched last year for the Rox.
Didn’t stand out to me at all. Fastball seemed flat at 92mph (coming out of the bullpen), but his curveball looked sharp. I didn’t think there was much there for Deduno however.
I'm GoRockies!! everybody :P
by CentralCaliRox on Jan 25, 2011 11:27 AM MST up reply actions
I watched Deduno
in ST last year and his curveball made some of the major leaguers look absolutely silly standing at the plate. His fastball was a little flat but as long as he could get one or two strikes on a hitter the curveball would be used as the out pitch. This is why people were thinking he would be a better fit in the bullpen, except that he walks too many people.
You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the goddamn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all. ~Earl Weaver
Baseball fans love numbers. They love to swirl them around their mouths like Bordeaux wine. ~Pat Conroy
JFK
Deduno
The Rockies don’t seem terribly patient with Tommy John comebacks unless they are first round draft picks
by pitcherwatcher on Jan 25, 2011 12:35 PM MST reply actions
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