DENVER (AP) - Unable to trade him at the winter meetings, the Colorado Rockies allowed speedy center fielder Willy Taveras to become a free agent Friday night.
Taveras, who turns 27 this month, hit .251 in 133 games for the Rockies in 2008, when he led the majors with 68 steals.The Rockies tried to trade him to Washington this month but talks broke down, and Colorado decided not to tender him a contract for next season.
Taveras spent two injury-plagued seasons in Colorado after he was acquired from Houston along with pitchers Taylor Buchholz and Jason Hirsh in exchange for Jason Jennings in December 2006.
In parts of five major league seasons, Taveras has a career .283 batting average with seven homers, 109 RBIs and 169 stolen bases.
Ryan Spilborghs is expected to take over in center for Colorado next season.
Colorado also decided not to tender a contract to infielder Jonathan Herrera, who hit .230 in 28 games for Colorado last season. The 24-year-old Herrera was signed by the Rockies as a minor free agent when he was 17 and played seven seasons in the organization.
