This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/rockies as Rockies Capitalized on Trading Jake Bird to Yankees Despite Some Red Flags. One of the most popular Colorado Rockies players ahead of the MLB trade deadline on the rumor mill was relief pitcher Jake Bird.

Five days after acquiring Jake Bird from the Colorado Rockies, the New York Yankees have optioned the right-hander to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. It's a move that may seem sudden, but the warning signs were there.