The Rockies traded infielder Jeff Baker to the Cubs on Thursday, receiving relief pitcher Al Alburquerque in return and bidding farewell to a player whose rehab assignment was ending and who didn’t really fit on the Rockies roster.

Baker, 28, last played for the Rockies on April 26 and has been sidelined with a sprained left hand. In 12 games, including four starts, this season with the Rockies, Baker hit .130 (3-for-24) with a triple. He appeared in 231 games for the Rockies, hitting .257 with 22 home runs and 88 RBI and playing second base as well as both corner infield and outfield positions.

The Rockies drafted Baker in the fourth round of the 2002 draft out of Clemson where he finished his career as a third baseman. Baker fell in the draft because he is represented by Scott Boras, and there were questions about whether Baker would be a challenge to sign. Staying healthy was a problem for Baker, who seemed to be more on the fringe than in the flow of the Rockies mix.

Alburquerque, 23, will report to Double-A Tulsa. He began the season at high Class A Daytona, going 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 24 games while holding opponents to a .203 average. Alburquerque allowed 26 hits and 14 walks in 34 2/3 innings with 44 strikeouts.

Injuries have plagued Alburquerque, a right-hander who missed the entire 2008 season after undergoing shoulder surgery in April 2008. He was on the disabled list twice in 2007, first with a shoulder strain for a month early in the season and then with an elbow strain in late August. And he missed the 2005 season with an elbow problem that resulted in Tommy John surgery.

Alburquerque, who is 6 feet and 180 pounds, has a plus, plus fastball. He’ll sit at 95 mph with the pitch, which ranges from 92-97 mph and has good sinking action, runs in on right-handed hitters and has enough of a downhill plane.

Alburquerque has a power slider that averages 84 mph and can have quick movement, and a changeup, which also averages 84 mph and is a developing pitch that shows promise.

In other news, left-hander Christian Friedrich, who is recovering from left elbow soreness and last pitched June 10 at high Class A Modesto, is scheduled to throw a three-inning simulated game Friday, putting him on track to return to the Nuts’ rotation within a week.

Modesto pitcher Bruce Billings is sidelined with tendinitis in his right shoulder. He’s currently taking treatment and hasn’t resumed throwing. He last pitched June 19 and is 5-7 with a 4.59 ERA in 14 starts.

Connor Graham, who is 4-4 with a 3.74 ERA in 13 starts for Modesto, the last on June 25, missed a start with elbow soreness. An MRI revealed no structural damage, and Graham threw out to 120 feet Wednesday and is scheduled to throw a light 45-pitch bullpen today.

The injuries to the Nuts’ rotation are why Ethan Hollandsworth was promoted from low Class A Asheville, where he went 5-4 with a 3.67 ERA, and why left-hander Brandon Durden was returned to Modesto after making five starts for Tulsa while the Drillers were dealing with some injury problems in their rotation.

Finally, Modesto shortstop Hector Gomez, one of the better prospects in the Rockies’ system, returned June 29 after missing a month with a right groin strain.