Red Sox Trade Morales to Rockies for Hererra

Red Sox news release…

BOSTON, MA –
The Boston Red Sox today acquired infielder Jonathan Herrera from the
Colorado Rockies in exchange for left-handed pitcher Franklin Morales
and minor league right-handed pitcher Chris Martin. 

Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcement.

Herrera,
29, posted a single-season career-high .292 batting average
(57-for-195) with seven doubles, two triples, one home run, and 16 RBI
in 81 games with the Rockies in 2013, his third consecutive season spent
entirely on the major league roster. 

Over his final 57 games of the
year beginning on June 4, Herrera hit .312 (44-for-141).  The
switch-hitter batted .317 (46-for-145) from the left side of the plate
and hit .220 (11-for-50) against left-handed pitching.

Overall
last season, he made 45 starts, including 28 at shortstop, 16 at second
base, and one at third base.  He also appeared in two games in left
field, his first major league outfield experience.  

The
native of Maracaibo, Venezuela is one of four major leaguers to appear
in at least five games at shortstop, second base, and third base in each
of the last four seasons.  He owns a career .985 fielding percentage at
second base (181 games), a .983 mark at shortstop (114 games), and has
not committed an error in 43 career games at third base.

Originally
signed by the Rockies as an international free agent in 2002, Herrera
has appeared in 375 major league games in his career, all with Colorado
over parts of five seasons (2008, 2010-13).  He is a lifetime .265
hitter (261-for-984) in the big leagues with 28 doubles, seven triples,
eight homers, 66 RBI, 87 walks, and 14 stolen bases.

Morales,
27, returns to the Rockies after appearing in 93 games (10 starts) over
parts of three seasons with the Red Sox following a trade from Colorado
in May 2011.  He went 6-7 with one save and a 3.90 ERA (58 ER/134.0 IP)
with Boston, including a 2-2 record with a 4.62 ERA (13 ER/25.1 IP) in
20 outings during the 2013 regular season (one start). 

Morales also
pitched in three 2013 postseason games, allowing one run in 1.1
innings.  In 195 major league outings in his career (25 starts) over
parts of seven major league seasons with Colorado (2007-11) and Boston
(2011-13), he is 13-18 with a 4.38 ERA and 242 strikeouts.

The
27-year-old Martin split the 2013 season pitching in relief between
Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket.  He combined for a 5-3 record
with five saves, a 2.25 ERA (18 ER/72.0 IP), and 74 strikeouts. 

The
right-hander had his contract purchased by Boston from the Grand Prairie
AirHogs of the independent American Association prior to the 2011
season.  In three minor league seasons in the Red Sox system, he
appeared in 88 games and made 13 starts, going 14-11 with nine saves, a
3.12 ERA (77 ER/222.1 IP), and 194 strikeouts.

— RED SOX —