--CF Willy Taveras became a free agent after not being tendered a contract by the Rockies. He made $2,025,000 last season when he hit .251 with a .308 on-base percentage while leading the majors with 68 stolen bases. Given his offensive shortcomings and the fact Taveras suffered leg injuries in his two seasons with the Rockies, including a stress fracture in his right leg that caused him to miss the final five games of the season, the Rockies weren't interested in having Taveras go through the arbitration process and end up with a salary around $3 million next year.
Also, at some point in 2009, the Rockies hope Dexter Fowler, whom they see as their center fielder of the future, will come up from Class AAA, all of which made Taveras, who turns 27 on Christmas, expendable. The Rockies thought they had a deal in place at the winter meetings to trade Taveras and RHP Juan Morillo to the Nationals for RHP Tim Redding, but the Nationals had some medical concerns about Morillo.
--The Rockies also cleared a roster spot by not tendering INF Jonathan Herrera a contract and then signing him to a minor league deal. Herrera, 24, appeared in 28 games with the Rockies last season, none after June 13, and hit .230 with three RBIs.
Herrera, 24, spent the bulk of the season at Class AAA Colorado Springs, where he hit .310 with three homers, 31 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 66 games. Herrera runs well and might have value as a utility type in the majors, but the Rockies are well-stocked with middle infield prospects. Herrera is playing winter ball in his native Venezuela for Caribes, where he was hitting .237 with 14 RBIs through 43 games.
--The Rockies will conclude spring training in Las Vegas with a two-game series against the Seattle Mariners on April 3-4 before opening the regular season April 6 at Arizona. This will be the Rockies' third appearance in Las Vegas and first since 2003. They also played in Las Vegas at the end of spring training in 2000.
--LHP Glendon Rusch, a free agent, returned to the Rockies, agreeing to a one-year, $750,000 minor league deal. The minor league contract gives the Rockies time to make room on their roster for Rusch at a later date.
Rusch went 4-3 with a 4.78 ERA in 23 games, including eight starts, last season for Colorado. He joined the Rockies after being outrighted by the Padres on May 10 and opting not to report to their Class AAA affiliate and instead become a free agent.
--LHP Franklin Morales finished up in winter ball in Venezuela by making his final start for Caracas on Dec. 13. He went 3-3 with a 3.11 ERA in nine starts, walking 12 and striking out 33 in 46 1/3 innings. Morales, who turns 23 on Jan. 24, is expected to spend most of his time in Denver to prepare for spring training and will participate in the Rockies' Winter Development Program next month.
--CF Ryan Spilborghs began playing winter ball in Mexico for Obregon on Dec. 11. This is the third time in four seasons Spilborghs has played for Obregon. To prepare for the upcoming season, when he is expected to replace Willy Taveras, Spilborghs will only play center field this winter. Through six games, Spilborghs was hitting .227 (5-for-22) with one homer and six RBIs.
--RHP Ubaldo Jimenez made his winter ball debut Dec. 12 with Licey in the Dominican Republic. Through two games, the second in relief, Jimenez had allowed two hits and one run in 4 1/3 innings. He's expected to make about four appearances before returning to Denver to get ready for spring training.
BY THE NUMBERS: .299 -- On-base percentage while batting leadoff for CF Willy Taveras, which was 26th out of 29 qualifying National League players last season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We worked hard to trade him, but there was no deal to be made." -- General manager Dan O'Dowd on CF Willy Taveras, who became a free agent after not being offered a contract for 2009.
