--RHP Ryan Speier, RHP Juan Morillo and LHP Jorge De La Rosa do not have any minor league options remaining. De La Rosa figures to be in the Rockies rotation. Speier had three tours with the Rockies last season and could end up in the Opening Day bullpen with a good spring.

Morillo, 25, has a power arm that enables him to reach 100 mph with his fastball, but he never has been consistent. He has made seven appearances for the Rockies in the past three seasons, including one inning on July 20 last season when he with the Rockies for three days. Morillo went 1-0 with a 5.28 ERA in 52 games last year for Class AAA Colorado Springs, where he struck out 55 in 59 2/3 innings, but he walked 56 and threw five wild pitches.

In 13 games this winter for Azucareros in the Dominican Republic, Morillo went 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA. He allowed 11 hits and had 11 strikeouts in 12 innings but walked seven.

The Rockies would love to see Morillo pitch well enough in spring training to make the team rather than risk losing his gifted arm to another organization where he might blossom. But in order to leave spring training as a member of the Rockies bullpen, Morillo is going to have show a consistency that mostly has been missing to this point.

--In addition to determining a fifth starter, the Rockies have to decide between RHP Huston Street and RHP Manuel Corpas as their closer. They have to determine if Seth Smith is ready to assume the job in left field. And they have to decide whether to carry three extra infielders and one extra outfielder or go with a more traditional bench configuration of two backups in the infield and two in the outfield. The first option could work because INFs Jeff Baker and Ian Stewart can provide protection in the outfield, particularly Stewart, who is a far better defensive player.

--RHP Jhoulys Chacin, CF Dexter Fowler and C Wilin Rosario, who are among the Rockies' top prospects, were among the 20 non-roster players invited to big-league camp.

The group also includes RHPs Matt Belisle, Matt Daley, Josh Fogg and Brandon Hynick; LHPs Cedrick Bowers, Glendon Rusch and Randy Flores; INFs Christian Colonel, Luis Gonzalez and Jonathan Herrera; OFs Chris Frey, Matt Miller, Dan Ortmeier and Scott Podsednik; and catchers Edwin Bellorin, Michael McKenry, Paul Phillips and Sal Fasano.

--C Sal Fasano, who has played for nine major league teams, including the Rockies for part of the 2001 season, returned to the organization on a minor league contract. Fasano played 25 games for the Rockies after being acquired from the Royals in June 2001 in a deal for C Brent Mayne.

With starting C Chris Iannetta scheduled to be away from camp while playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, Fasano, 37, can help fill that position. Fasano is very good at calling a game and has superb receiving skills. He might be able to help catching prospect Wilin Rosaio, who turns 20 on Feb. 23, in those areas.

The Rockies seem set at catcher with Iannetta and Yorvit Torrealba, an expensive backup owed $4 million this season. Fasano's willingness to play at Class AAA Colorado Springs could determine whether he remains in the organization to start the season.

Elsewhere at catcher, the Rockies are very familiar with Edwin Bellorin, who is starting his third year in the organization. Bellorin, who turns 27 on Feb. 21, seems destined to return to Class AAA Colorado Springs. Newcomer Paul Phillips, 31, signed this winter, is likely to share the catching chores there, unless he's beaten out by Fasano.

--LHP Randy Flores signed a minor league contract with the Rockies. The reliever pitched in eight games for Colorado toward the end of the 2002 season and spent the following year with the Rockies' Class AAA Colorado Springs affiliate.

The Rockies had discussions with LHP Joe Beimel but were unable to come to a financial agreement. Their pursuit of left-handed relief depth led the Rockies to Flores, 33, whose salary in the majors would be $600,000.

Flores won't return to that level any time soon. He went 1-0 with a 5.26 ERA in 43 games last year for the Cardinals before undergoing arthroscopic surgery in late September to have his left shoulder cleaned out. Flores might not be ready to pitch until June.

Should he recover more quickly, Flores has a protection clause in his contract. He can depart for a spot on an active roster with another club if he's not on the Rockies' 25-man roster by April 30. Assuming that departure doesn't happen, the Rockies see Flores as someone who could aid their bullpen during the season, when trying to trade for pitching is difficult.

BY THE NUMBERS: 0 -- Wins on the road when trailing after eight complete innings last season. The Rockies went 0-48 in such situations, as well as 2-44 when trailing after seven complete innings on the road.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "From a talent standpoint, he's got a lot of ability. We've only downplayed it in the sense that we just don't know what we have, because we know that talent is one thing, but the ability to apply that talent is totally something different." -- General manager Dan O'Dowd on OF Carlos Gonzalez, 23, acquired from Oakland in the Matt Holliday trade.