Injured Colorado Rockies reliever Rafael Betancourt says he is ready to return to the team and is expected to be placed back in the closer role with Rex Brothers moving to set-up, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports.
Rockies’ Rafael Betancourt expected back as closer
The veteran pitcher has missed a month with appendicitis, but has declared himself ready to return to closing.
Doug Pensinger
Betancourt has been on the disabled list for a month because of appendicitis. In his absence, Brothers has picked up seven saves for the Rockies. When asked about Betancourt’s return, Manager Walt Weiss had previously said he was unsure whether the veteran reliever would return as closer or be placed in a set-up role.
Weiss said that he would find out where Betancourt was at mentally before deciding on his role upon activation. The two did talk, and Betancourt told Weiss he was ready to resume closing.
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The move to place Betancourt back in the closer role is somewhat odd. Brothers, who is just 25 years old, is being groomed to be the closer of the future and has been phenomenal in 2013, with a 1.61 ERA over 54 appearances.
Betancourt, on the other hand, is already 38 years old and is possibly in his last season with the team. Betancourt has a mutual option worth $4.25 million for the 2014 season.
Betancourt is a candidate to be an August trade if the team puts him through revocable waivers.
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