Red Sox Roster Moves: Justin Germano Recalled, Clayton Mortensen Optioned
As reported yesterday, the Red Sox will purchase the contract of RHP Justin Germano and will promote him to the big club later today. Germano will then be assigned to the bullpen. To make room for Germano on the roster the Red Sox have optioned Clayton Mortensen to triple-A Pawtucket.
You may recall Germano had a July 1 opt-out clause in his contract that stated if he wasn’t on the Red Sox major league roster by that date he could elect to seek employment elsewhere and walk away from the Boston organization. When the Red Sox did not make a move on the 1st of July the team then had a 48-hour window to decide what to do or Germano could have walked. Given his numbers in triple-A he surely would have been scooped up by another club, hence the decision to purchase his contract and get him up to the major league level.
On the season in Pawtucket, Germano was 9-4 with a 2.40 ERA in 17 games, 16 of which were starts. He worked in 105 innings and struck out 72 batters while walking only 13.
His last major league appearance was in May of 2011 when he was a member of the Cleveland Indians. Over 79 career appearances in the big leagues Germano is 8-20 with a 5.02 ERA.
Mortensen is once again the victim of the numbers game in being demoted. It’s the second time this season he’s been sent down to Pawtucket simply to make room for another pitcher. There is no other way to explain it given his numbers while pitching for Boston. Through 20.0 innings Mortensen has an impressive ERA of 1.35 with a microscopic WHIP of 0.65 while striking out 15 and walking just 2 batters.
His most recent outing was on Monday when Dice-K stunk so bad he couldn’t get out of the second inning. Mortensen came on in relief and pitched 5.0 innings while giving up just 2 hits and 1 earned run.
With a bullpen that has been the consistent bright spot for the Red Sox, it’s hard to figure when and where Mortensen will get promoted. Should Germano or any other reliever struggle, Clayton Mortensen should be the first name that management calls for.