In addition, players with multiyear contracts with built-in raises include RHP Aaron Cook ($5 million to $8.75 million), RF Brad Hawpe ($3.92 million to $5.5 million), LHP Jeff Francis ($2.75 million to $3.75 million) and C Yorvit Torrealba ($2.75 million to $3.5 million).

--In Atlanta, Marquis played with Walt Weiss, no longer a special assistant to Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd, but still a valued resource. O'Dowd asked Weiss about Marquis, a fellow New Yorker who in addition to being a teammate, became a good friend.

"I certainly talked to Walt at length," O'Dowd said. "He knew Jason well and recommended him highly for our situation."

Namely, to find a veteran who could add depth to the back of the rotation. Marquis was attractive to the Rockies because he has averaged 192 1/3 innings per year over the past five seasons and because in all or parts of nine seasons in the big leagues, he has been on the disabled list once. And that was seven years ago.

"I think we have some injury situations with Jeff (Francis) and Greg Smith that we're optimistic about, but you don't know," O'Dowd said, referring to the recurrence of shoulder inflammation that shut Francis down in mid-September and Smith's arthroscopic surgery in October to remove loose bodies from his elbow. "We've been trying to find another durable starter most of the winter, and we felt this guy fit that category better than some of the other ones we were talking to."

--The Rockies, searching for a left-handed hitter who can play center field, would like to bring Scott Podsednik back but aren't optimistic about re-signing him. O'Dowd said he "hadn't had a lot of feedback" from Podsednik's agent, "so I don't know really where that one is at this point in time." Podsednik signed as a non-roster player last year shortly before the start of spring training. He was added to the Opening Day roster when he beat out OF Cory Sullivan in the final roster move of spring training.

With CF Willy Taveras gone and Ryan Spilborghs, a right-handed hitter, likely to start at that position, O'Dowd would like to find a left-handed-hitting complement. In spring training. Carlos Gonzalez, a left-handed hitter who can play center field as well as the corner positions, and switch-hitting CF Dexter Fowler will get long looks, but O'Dowd would like to find a veteran left-handed-hitting backup if, as seems likely, Gonzalez and Fowler need more development time at Class AAA.

--RF Brad Hawpe was invited to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic and, according to agent Dan Horwits, will discuss the matter with his family and the Rockies before making his decision. Team USA will begin workouts March 2, and first-round games start March 7. Hawpe, 29, hit .283 last season with 25 homers and 85 RBIs along with 134 strikeouts.

--O'Dowd recently said the Rockies were very interested in RHP Tim Redding but thought they weren't "in the mix" because of the limited money they had to work with. Turns out, O'Dowd was right. Redding reportedly agreed to a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the Mets.

The Rockies unsuccessfully tried to trade for Redding before the Nationals non-tendered him last month and he became a free agent. O'Dowd wanted to sign Redding to add depth to the rotation, but he turned his attention to Marquis once the Cubs agreed to take Vizcaino and the $4 million due him this year -- $3.5 million in salary with a $500,000 buyout on a $4 million salary for 2010.

BY THE NUMBERS: 4.33 -- Pitches seen per plate appearance by OF Ryan Spilborghs, the most by any Rockies player last year with at least 275 plate appearances. That's one reason the Rockies believe Spilborghs, who has averaged 3.98 pitches per plate appearances in his career, can bat leadoff.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm excited to come to Colorado and start fresh and help this team and be a piece of the puzzle that can get this team back to where they were in '07. I'm excited to come there and be a part of something special." -- RHP Jason Marquis, on being traded to the Rockies.