Marquis joins a rotation that will include Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez and Jeff Francis and provides insurance, if needed, should Francis have any lingering problems from the shoulder inflammation that sidelined him for five weeks last season and prevented him from pitching after mid-September.

Jorge De La Rosa is also projected for the rotation after his promising 2008 season, but he has nowhere near Marquis' experience.

Marquis is 79-70 lifetime with a 4.55 ERA in 257 games, including 198 as a starter, which has been his role almost exclusively dating back to 2004. He went 11-9 with a 4.53 ERA last year, when he worked 167 innings after pitching at least 191 2/3 in each of the previous four seasons.

Others who will compete for the rotation in spring training include left-hander Greg Smith, acquired in November from Oakland in the deal that sent Matt Holliday to the A's; lefty Franklin Morales and right-handers Jason Hirsh and Greg Reynolds.

The Rockies signed Vizcaino to a two-year, $7.5 million free agent contract in December 2007, hoping he could set up in the eighth inning. Instead, he became a mop-up man while going 1-2 with a 5.28 ERA in 43 games.

Vizcaino was on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain from April 6 to June 7, and after blowing his only save opportunity of the season Sept. 2, he never pitched in a game the Rockies won. Vizcaino was particularly ineffective against left-handed hitters, who hit .372 (32-for-86) against him with eight home runs.

On Oct. 27, Vizcaino was arrested in Tampa and charged with driving under the influence after police alleged he was going 71 mph in a 45 mph zone.