Eric Byrnes, who won over the hearts of A's fans with an all-out style of play that overcame his lack of raw baseball skills, was traded on Wednesday to the Colorado Rockies. The Oakland Tribune has learned Byrnes and middle infield prospect Omar Quintanilla were sent to Colorado for left-handed pitcher Joe Kennedy and right-handed pitcher Jay Witasick. Byrnes had a mix of emotions Wednesday as he packed his bags inside the A's clubhouse. ``I'm excited, I really am, '' Byrnes said. ``Hopefully I'll get an opportunity to play on a regular basis. But I have to admit I'm also very sad.'' Byrnes, who grew up a Giants fan along the Peninsula, was drafted by the A's in 1998 and it's the only organization he's ever played for. ``I can't begin to thank the fans enough,'' Byrnes added. ``I can't tell you how grateful I am for the way I was received. They've meant a lot to me. It's tough in this day and age with free agency and trades, there's a growing disconnect between fans and players, but that's not at all what I experienced. It's helped me so much as a baseball player and as a person. It's been awesome playing in my hometown in front of my friends and family. ``It's been a real special experience.'' Earlier in the day, the A's finalized a trade that sent reliever Chad Bradford to the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Jay Payton. The deal was in the works since last Thursday. Byrnes, who hit .266 with seven homers and 24 RBIs this year, received some well wishes from the few A's players. His eyes lit up when he thought about playing at hitter-friendly Coors Field and making three trips every year to San Francisco and San Diego. ``I don't know what to expect,'' he said. ``But I'm going with a smile on my face and looking to help them win some games.''