Colorado Rockies: Axford, Oberg Up; Rosario Optioned To AAA, Hawkins to DL

July 21, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario (20) fields the ball from his stomach in the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The question of who would be removed from the active roster when John Axford returned to the Colorado Rockies has been answered: Wilin Rosario has been optioned to AAA Albuquerque.

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News is official now as we awaited word on who might be shipped out when John Axford returned to the Colorado Rockies: the unlucky man is none other than Wilin Rosario.

The catcher-turned first baseman will held to AAA Albuquerque to play first base every day and get work at his new position as the Rockies look to extend their bullpen depth a little bit after several tough days with short and ineffective work from the starting rotation.

Purple Row had it first:

Thomas Harding gave more insight on Axford’s arrival:

And Nick Groke piqued our curiosity:

Uh-oh. That doesn’t sound good.

Might this make Rosario available for a trade elsewhere? Might he be disgruntled and ask the team for a move to give him an opportunity to play every day in the big leagues?

Whoa, there. Maybe. Maybe not. Really, Rosario had a minor league option left and it was safer to do this with him in the short term and develop bullpen depth that’s needed right now, as opposed to exposing someone else to waivers or sending down one reliever just to activate another one.

Either way, Wilin Rosario is now heading to Albuquerque, and John Axford is back with the ball club. It sounds like Rosario will be given everyday at-bats at first base in the minors so he can work there as opposed to being left on the bench in Denver.

More on this story as soon as we know it.

UPDATE, 4:09 pm MT: Nick Groke of the Denver Post has more on Rosario’s thoughts after being optioned to Albuquerque:

"Rosario was not happy about the move.“I don’t feel good,” Rosario said. “I’d be lying to you if I said that. I need to be here. I’m playing at a big-league level.“They need a couple pitchers this week. After that, I’ll be back.”"

Well, you can’t blame him for being upset. You also can’t blame the Rockies for needing pitchers (because they do).

UPDATE, 4:49 pm MT: Well, I shouldn’t have stepped away for a minute, because Thomas Harding brings more news:

If all this goes as it seems, a week down in AAA where Rosario can see live pitching every day, and a week or so with an extra pitcher on the staff to help the bullpen catch their breath might not be the worst thing in the world for everyone involved.

As for Hawkins, I guess we’ll see.