Chris Capuano traded to the New York Yankees

What is your favorite memory of the Chris Capuano era with the Colorado Rockies?

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Come to think of it, maybe this is the more important question: were you aware that Capuano was in the Rockies’ system? Well he was, briefly, but the team traded him to the New York Yankees on Thursday.

The truth is, with each start from Yohan Flande, the idea of Capuano taking a spot in the starting rotation seemed more and more appealing. The Rockies sent Capuano to the minor leagues to stretch out as a starter after he pitched exclusively as a reliever with the Boston Red Sox this season before trading him to the Yankees.

Capuano actually did pretty well as he prepped for a possible big league gig in the rotation, allowing just six earned runs over the course of 19 innings in Double-A and Triple-A. For some reason the team went with Flande instead of Capuano, perhaps not to rush the veteran into the dumpster fire that is the Rockies’ rotation.

Nick Groke of the Denver Post has the following on the news:

"As trade talk swirled around center fielder Drew Stubbs on Thursday, the Rockies dealt minor-league pitcher Chris Capuano to the New York Yankees for cash considerations……Capuano had a 3.07 ERA in three appearances for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox. In his last start, on Monday, he had 11 strikeouts in seven innings of a victory over Nashville."

And yes, the Rockies still went with Flande as the short-term solution in their rotation. Not that Capuano is going to complain, as he now gets to join the Yankees in the thick of a playoff race. It will be shocking if he does not at least get a shot at New York’s rotation.

Along with a number of Rockies fans, I scoff at the notion that the Rockies should simply serve as a farm system to larger market teams. But when you take a veteran starting pitcher, put him in your minor league system to get ready to pitch, and then immediately send him to the Yankees, it’s hard to think of it as anything else, cash considerations be darned.