Rockies trade Mike Moustakas to Angels in exchange for Connor Van Scoyoc

The Moose Experiment was short-lived in LoDo.

Colorado traded infielder Mike Moustakas to the Angels in exchange for right-handed prospect Connor Van Scoyoc on Saturday night. The trade was announced minutes after Los Angeles blasted the Rockies 25-1 in Colorado’s worst defeat in franchise history.

In 47 games this season, Moustakas hit .270 with four homers, 17 RBIs and a .795 OPS. He appeared at first, third and DH for the Rockies, who signed the veteran to a minor-league deal in spring training.

In the deal for Van Scoyoc, the Rockies add another starting pitching prospect to a farm system that has a dearth of them. The 23-year-old, an 11th-round pick by the Angels in 2018 out of Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has a 4.40 ERA over four minor-league seasons.

After getting bombed in the Arizona Fall League to the tune of a 7.62 ERA in seven starts, Van Scoyoc’s faring well in High-A this season, with a 2.76 ERA in 11 starts. He’s like to start his Rockies career with High-A Spokane or possibly Double-A Hartford.

The Rockies might turn around and face Moustakas a day after trading him, as Colorado takes on Los Angeles in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Coors Field.