Rockies option Chad Bettis, promote Chris Martin

The Rockies optioned the struggling Chad Bettis to Triple-A Colorado Springs and purchased the contract of minor league reliever Chris Martin prior to the team's game against the Dodgers on Friday, according to Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post.

Bettis, who was a prime candidate for a breakout season, instead dealt with command issues and decreased velocity during the first few weeks of 2014. The result was a 7.15 ERA in 11⅓ innings with the Rockies in his first go-around as a full-time reliever.

Martin actually lost his job as the closer for the Sky Sox after giving up seven runs on 10 hits in 7⅔ innings, but he has flashed tremendous strikeout ability, whiffing 11 batters against only two unintentional walks. The Rockies acquired Martin, along with Franklin Morales, from the Red Sox in exchange for Jonathan Herrera during the offseason. Martin is not currently on the 40-man roster, so the Rockies will have to make a corresponding move sometime within the next couple of hours.

UPDATE (5:33 p.m. MT): To make room for Martin, the Rockies will transfer Brett Anderson to the 60-day disabled list, perhaps raising a whole new set of questions.