Sox acquire Franklin Morales and DFA Okijima

[RedSoxFaithful]

Okiajima was sent to AAA and the sox acquired Franklin Morales from Colorado for a player to be named later or cash.

 

Red Sox Acquire Franklin Morales

By Zach Links [May 19 at 9:50pm CST]

The Red Sox have acquired Rockies left-hander Franklin Morales for a player to be named later or cash considerations, according to Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald (via Twitter). In order to make room for Morales, Hideki Okajima has been designated for assignment by the BoSox.

 

Boston has until November to either agree on a player in the Morales trade or pay a nominal amount of money to the Rockies, tweets Buster Olney of ESPN.

 

Morales was ranked as the eighth-best prospect in baseball by Baseball America prior to the 2008 season. The left-hander throws the ball extremely hard as evidenced by his 94.4 mph fastball last year. Across parts of five big league seasons, he owns a 4.83 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 5.1 BB/9.

 

The 25-year-old is out of options and the Rockies have reportedly been concerned about losing him to waivers. Yesterday we learned that the Rockies were measuring trade interest in Morales as well as fellow fireballer Felipe Paulino.

 

Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe (via Twitter) first reported that the two sides were close to an agreement while Troy Renck of The Denver Post (via Twitter) reported that a deal was completed.

[Dojji]

Nah it's cool to break this out into its own thread. We don't need to megathread EVERYTHING, and this is an acquisition that reports immediately to Boston so it's apropos..

 

Good trade. REally surprised we got a 25 year old lefty with that kind of stuff for a PTBNL, even if his command is below average.

[RedSoxFaithful]

Nah it's cool to break this out into its own thread. We don't need to megathread EVERYTHING, and this is an acquisition that reports immediately to Boston.

 

Good trade. REally surprised we got a 25 year old lefty with that kind of stuff for a PTBNL, even if his command is below average.

 

Yeah the walks per 9 seem high but he seems worth a shot since we are giving up so little. 95mph fastball is nice though

 

To be honest I would rather them sent down Atchison than Oki. Maybe they are keeping Atchison for more starting depth.

[MNSoxChief102]

Wow. Morales has control issues and hasn't been great for Colorado lately but I never thought he'd be available for a PTBNL or cash considerations. Figured it would take something more to get him in the fold considering his age and potential.

 

Theo gets an atta boy on this for sure...

[italstallianion]

Didn't we have a similar (albeit slightly worse) player in Andrew Miller?

[example1]

Good pickup for a minimal price, I think. Morales is a legit MLB reliever... Which means his production is highly variable and this could be a good move or a nothing move. Can't hurt to try.

[jacksonianmarch]

It depends on the PTBNL, but this is a steal. Morales has a live arm and was even the Rockies' closer for a little while. I guess the options issue was the clincher. Also, it looks like his control has worsened over the last 2 seasons. 32BB in 42.2IP over the last 2 seasons isnt a good thing. Also, his splits vs lefties this yr make him not really a situational guy. His OPS vs righties is .595. His OPS vs lefties is .935. Regardless, he is a reclamation project for the sox. If they can right him, he'll be an elite reliever. If not, then it depends on who the PTBNL is

[a700hitter]

I think the options were important. Unless he shoots out the lights before Jenks and Wheeler come back or Hill stinks up the joint, he'll get optioned to AAA when the other guys come off the DL.

[SoxSport]

Still young at 25. Has pitched OK this year so far. Any decent lefty is gold in this division.

[redsoxrules]

I dont get this.

 

Okajima has actually looked good minus his first appearance of the year .

[ORS]

I think the options were important. Unless he shoots out the lights before Jenks and Wheeler come back or Hill stinks up the joint' date=' he'll get optioned to AAA when the other guys come off the DL.[/quote']

I think the options were important too, which is why he can't be optioned down to AAA if any of what you said transpires. They'll need to make a decision, a hard/tough one, I'm looking at you Wakefield.

[example1]

It depends on the PTBNL' date=' but this is a steal. Morales has a live arm and was even the Rockies' closer for a little while. I guess the options issue was the clincher. Also, it looks like his control has worsened over the last 2 seasons. 32BB in 42.2IP over the last 2 seasons isnt a good thing. Also, his splits vs lefties this yr make him not really a situational guy. His OPS vs righties is .595. His OPS vs lefties is .935. Regardless, he is a reclamation project for the sox. If they can right him, he'll be an elite reliever. If not, then it depends on who the PTBNL is[/quote']

 

It's a good move for a team that could use a strong lefty reliever. They may give up something pretty decent in the PTBNL category, but it is probably someone at the lower levels where they have lots of talent that won't impact for a few years.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I dont get this.

 

Okajima has actually looked good minus his first appearance of the year .

 

In 2010 and 2011, LHH hit .293 off of Okajima. And if you think that's because he was having a bad year last year, it's not. Lefties hit .364 off of him this year so far.

 

Oki was a complete waste of a roster spot. Francona had no confidence to use him. He wasn't effective against left handed hitters. There was zero reason to keep him when you've got an option to get a guy who has held lefties to a .185 BAA in his career.

 

Combine Morales with Hill and we've got two lefties who are going to be really good options in tight games when guys like Granderson, Cano, etc are up to hit.

[a700hitter]

I think the options were important too' date=' which is why he can't be optioned down to AAA if any of what you said transpires. They'll need to make a decision, a hard/tough one, I'm looking at you Wakefield.[/quote']Oh, I thought he had options. Well, let's hope he starts throwing strikes quickly. Otherwise, he'll have a short tenure in the organization.

[WhiskeyBreath]

I dont get this.

 

Okajima has actually looked good minus his first appearance of the year .

 

It's because they pretty much just forgot about Okajima in the pen. They barely used the guy.

[RedSoxFaithful]

Didn't we just activate Wheeler again and send down Bowden?

 

If Morales pitches well I sure hope we send Atchison back down when we acivate Jenks.

 

I also hope Wheeler doesn't suck this time.

[Spudboy]

Meh.

[26 to 6]

I hope the Yanks at least consider taking a flier on Okajima if he isn't claimed by someone else first. Good move for the Sox though, Morales has great stuff and a world of potential if he can put it all together.

[Palodios]

I hope the Yanks at least consider taking a flier on Okajima if he isn't claimed by someone else first. Good move for the Sox though' date=' Morales has great stuff and a world of potential if he can put it all together.[/quote']

 

Me too