Franklin Morales

Franklin Morales

38-Year-Old PitcherP
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Franklin Morales in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Released by Milwaukee in March 2016.
Released by Blue Jays
PFree Agent  
August 9, 2016
Morales was released by the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
ANALYSIS
The lefty played a significant role in the Royals' bullpen last year, making 67 appearances for the eventual World Series champions, but he hurt his shoulder early on this season and was not particularly sharp after his return late last month. Toronto designated Morales for assignment and will allow the 30-year-old to explore his opportunities elsewhere. Morales figures to have several options on the open market.
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Franklin Morales See More
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February 26, 2015
The Rockies did little to address their pitching needs in the offseason, and thus, expectations are low even with Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez approaching full health. Is the end of an era near in Colorado?
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September 12, 2014
Chris Benzine discusses what value Jose Ramirez has now that he has moved to the second spot in the order.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
Morales was a steady arm in the middle of Kansas City's bullpen last year with a 3.18 ERA and 1.16 WHIP, along with eight holds. Morales had good control with a 2.02 BB/9 and keeps the ball on the ground (49.5 percent of batted balls), but his strikeout rates and velocity have declined precipitously the past three seasons. Even if he maintains his strong control, he'll have a tough time sustaining success with less than six strikeouts per nine innings.
The Rockies acquired Morales last offseason, wagering that his experience pitching in Coors Field during the team’s glory years of the late aughts would enable him to revitalize a flagging career. The lefty ended up staying healthy enough to toss 142.1 innings, the second-most on the team, but aside from that, his reunion with the Rockies proved unharmonious. He routinely jostled between the rotation and long relief and thrived in neither capacity, as both the traditional (5.37 ERA, 1.62 WHIP) and advanced metrics (5.4 K-BB%, 1.52 HR/9 rate) would flesh out. The Rockies non-tendered him in the offseason, leaving Morales with the unenviable task of trying to find a landing spot in free agency coming off a year in which he was one of the worst pitchers on the league’s worst pitching staff. It won‘t help his cause that he was curiously poorer on the road (5.88 ERA, 6.38 FIP) than at home, likely forcing him to settle for a minor league contract with his next club.
Morales prepared to be a starter/long reliever in spring training, but missed the first two months of the season because of a chest injury. He later spent time on the disabled list because of a shoulder/pectoral injury and was limited to 25.1 innings. Morales was a less effective pitcher in 2013, though he was pretty tough on lefties. Acquired by the Rockies in December, he'll return to familiar surroundings as the third left-hander in the Colorado bullpen.
Morales pitched well for Boston in 2012, both as a reliever and starter, and has been told by new manager John Farrell to prepare for spring training as a starter. Control has been the bane in his career, though Morales has harnessed that some in his stint with the Red Sox. If he maintains the command, he will be an important cog in Boston's plans, whether that is as the fifth starter, fill-in starter, or part of the middle-inning relief corps. He enters the season as potentially one of three left-handed relievers, along with Andrew Miller and Craig Breslow. That supply of left-handed arms may lead to one of them being traded.
Morales spent the 2011 season pitching out of the bullpen in Colorado and then Boston. He had more success with Boston and that was the direct result of improving his control. He was still hittable, but Morales dropped his BB/9 rate with the Red Sox and became one of several left-handed relievers looking to fill a role that became a season-long need for Boston. He was the most effective of the bunch, particularly in August, but remains unproven over longer stretches. He reportedly pitched well in Venezuela during the offseason. The Red Sox will no doubt be looking for reliable relief from the left side, so there's an opening for Morales.
Morales started the 2010 season as the Rockies' fill-in closer for Huston Street, but he proved ineffective before a shoulder injury eventually knocked him from that role. He rejoined the team again in June, but posted a 7:10 K:BB ratio and was optioned to the minors to work on his arsenal. His numbers at Triple-A Colorado Springs were encouraging as he pitched 30.1 innings with a 2.67 ERA and 10.1 K/9IP. However, he was unable to shake the control issues that have pained him through his short career as he posted a 5.6 BB/9IP walk rate there. He resurfaced in September with 10.0 K/BB ratio, giving hope that he might be useful in the back end of the Rockies' bullpen in 2011. Until he curbs his appetite for walks, he's best left untouched by fantasy owners.
At the beginning of the season, Morales revealed to the team that he had been struggling through back pain throughout the 2008 season. He showed up to camp healthy, before a left shoulder strain kept him off the field until June, when he returned to the minors for a rehab stint. There, he was able to regain velocity in time to resurface in Colorado to fill in for closer Huston Street. At one point, he was considered one of the better pitching prospects in all of baseball, but that hype has faded a bit. He's only 24, so there's still plenty of sleeper potential here, but it looks like the Rockies are planning on using him as a reliever. He's a better choice to take over the closer's role from Street than the likes of Manny Corpas and Taylor Buchholz, so consider him in the endgame as a cheap staff filler with saves potential.
His success in the majors at the end of 2007 didn't serve him well last season, as he likely wasn't ready for a rotation job in April. He washed out, then pitched awfully at Triple-A. Just 23, there's plenty of time for him to spend a full year at Triple-A working on his mechanics. Think of him more as a keeper league pick and expect little, if anything, in 2009.
The extremely talented southpaw broke into the major leagues in 2007 at the age of 21. With the Colorado rotation decimated by injuries they turned to the youngster. He went 3-2 in eight major league starts and posted a 26:14 K:BB in 39.2 innings. He has an electric fastball that reaches the high 90's to go along with an excellent curveball and improving changeup. His pitches move so much that Morales has a hard time controlling them. The Rockies may elect to have him spend some time at Triple-A to get more seasoning, but it won't be long before he is a staple in the rotation.
More Fantasy News
Designated for assignment Monday
PToronto Blue Jays  
August 1, 2016
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Not traveling with team to Houston
PToronto Blue Jays  
July 31, 2016
Morales will not be traveling with the Blue Jays for the upcoming series against Houston, Barry Davis of Sportsnet reports.
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Activated from disabled list
PToronto Blue Jays  
July 22, 2016
Morales (shoulder) was activated from the DL on Friday.
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Staying in minors until further notice
PToronto Blue Jays  
Shoulder
July 1, 2016
Morales (shoulder) may not be immediately recalled by the Blue Jays once he's completed his rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo, Blue Jays Nation reports.
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PToronto Blue Jays  
Shoulder
June 23, 2016
Morales (shoulder) pitched one inning and recorded one strikeout plus a walk Tuesday in his first rehab outing in Single-A Dunedin.
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