Rockies trade utilityman Baker for Cubs minor league pitcher

The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club has sent infielder Jeff Baker to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Alberto Alburquerque. Alburquerque was assigned to Tulsa of the Texas League, the Double-A affiliate of the Rockies.

Baker, 28, hit .130 (3-for-23) in 12 games for the Rockies this season. He last played on April 26 as the Rockies starting third baseman. Baker has been has been on the disabled list with a left hand sprain since April 29 (retroactive to April 27). He was transferred to the 60-day disabled list May 24. Baker has started four games for the Rockies, including two starts at second base and two starts at third base.

Baker owns a career .257 (144-for-561) batting average with 22 home runs and 88 RBIs in 231 games for the Rockies. He made his major league debut as Colorado's opening day third baseman in 2005. His first hit was a two-run home run, as he became the fifth player in Rockies history to hit a home run in his debut. Baker appeared in the 2007 postseason for Colorado, playing at least one game in all three rounds of the playoffs while hitting .500 (2-for-4) with one RBI.

Alburquerque, 23, has made 24 appearances for the Daytona Cubs, the Single-A affiliate for Chicago. The right-hander has posted a 1-0 record with a 2.08 ERA (34.2 ip, 8 er). He has 2 saves and 44 strikeouts while issuing just 14 walks. Alburquerque is in his sixth professional season. A native of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, Alburquerque was originally signed as a nondrafted free agent by the Cubs on July 4, 2003.