Rusch, 34, signed a minor league deal with Colorado in December.  He posted a 6.75 ERA in 18.6 innings, and failed to shut down lefties.

Other notes from Renck…the Rox have had productive talks with Glendon Rusch, and Ray King has drawn interest from the Phillies, Marlins, and Pirates.

The Nationals’ unwillingness to take Taveras and Juan Morillo for Tim Redding — a deal Colorado thought was done — will lead the Rockies to non-tender the center fielder today, making him a free agent.

Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News agrees he’ll be non-tendered, noting the Yankees, Red Sox, Reds, Marlins, and White Sox also had trade discussions for Taveras.

Renck adds that Glendon Rusch has a minor league offer for $750K in hand, and is weighing offers from four other clubs.  Rusch would be the Rockies’ second lefty behind newly signed Alan Embree.

A few more notes: the Rockies have mild interest in bringing back Josh Fogg…they’re the favorite for Redding if he’s non-tendered too…the Rox will make a non-guaranteed offer to Scott Podsednik…Joey Gathright would be of interest if non-tendered.

• Jason Giambi maintains hopes of returning to the Yankees; he may be willing to take a discount.
• Dave Cameron believes the Rays won the Edwin Jackson–Matt Joyce swap, handily.
• Brett Saberhagen was hired as an agent for Dan Evans’ firm.  He’ll focus on pitchers.
• Shawn Chacon’s agent is trying to find his client a job.  Troy Renck also notes that the Rockies’ offer to Glendon Rusch is a $750K minor league deal.
• Kevin Kaduk relays his first Winter Meetings experience.

12:50am: Troy Renck says the Tim Redding–Willy Taveras deal is on life support.  An upgrade from dead, I suppose.  He says:

A potential deal died late Tuesday over apparent concerns about Willy Taveras’ left leg stress fracture. However, a Natonals’ source said that the bigger issue was a medical issue with a pitcher Washington was to receive as part of the deal. That leaves the lingering possibility that something could get done Thursday following the Rule 5 draft.

Both players remain non-tender candidates for Friday.  Thomas Harding says the Rockies have slim hope of a deal for Taveras.

Other notes from Harding:  The Rockies decided against making an offer to Brad Penny and they’re waiting to hear back on a minor league offer to Glendon Rusch.  Renck says they do have interest in Luis Ayala.

1:00pm: Joel Sherman adds Eddie Guardado as a lefty of interest for Colorado.

2:07am: Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post sums up the latest hot stove buzz around the Rockies.

• As you know, the Nationals are interested in Rockies outfielder Willy Taveras.  Taveras might be just a step above a non-tender, so the price shouldn’t be too high.  The real question is whether the Nats are planning on starting four players in the outfield.
• Joe Beimel is dropping out of the picture, but the Rockies still like Alan Embree, Ron Villone, and Glendon Rusch.
• The Mets’ asking price for Aaron Heilman was too high.  Jason Marquis could be a trade target, he can at least eat innings at a cost of $6MM to the Rockies.  Then again, a lot of guys can do that.
• No chance of multiyear contract talks between the Rockies and Brian Fuentes.

• It deserves another mention – Brian Fuentes has scheduled a visit with the Mets.  If he signs there, the Rockies will add the Mets’ #25 pick to their own #11 pick in the first round while also snagging a sandwich pick.
• The Rockies want two lefties, probably from the pool of Glendon Rusch, Alan Embree, Brian Shouse, and Joe Beimel.  Renck says the Tigers are aggressively pursuing Beimel, while Embree might have extra appeal if he can be had on a one-year deal.
• The Rockies hope to trade Willy Taveras, while free agent Cory Sullivan could fit with the Marlins or D’Backs according to Renck.  The Rockies plan to use Ryan Spilborghs in center and perhaps re-sign Scott Podsednik as a reserve.

9:04am: According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies are one of about ten teams pursuing free agent lefty Will Ohman.  Ohman currently has an offer on the table from the Braves.  The Rockies would also like to re-sign Glendon Rusch.

• The Rockies will offer arbitration to Brian Fuentes, who is a Type A free agent.  Obviously it’s all about the two draft picks, as Fuentes will decline.  He’ll probably sign with a team with an unprotected first-round pick, too.
• Harding says the Rockies are already receiving calls on Huston Street.  ESPN’s Buster Olney says Dan O’Dowd is telling other GMs he won’t trade Street, but some believe it’s posturing.
• O’Dowd backed off a bit on the idea of re-signing Glendon Rusch and Scott Podsednik, saying he wants to make sure there’s a role for them in Colorado.
• The Rockies won’t be diving in on any big-name free agent pitchers.  They’ll either stand pat or pursue trades.
• O’Dowd called the Reds trade rumors "comical."  The Rockies, by the way, are apparently not interested in Homer Bailey.

Rusch, 34 in November, posted a 5.16 ERA in 83.2 innings with the Padres and Rockies this year.  His peripheral numbers were respectable, and he held lefties to a .257/.261/.376 line.  Rusch missed all of the ’07 season due to a blood clot in his lung.

• I wrote last week that the Rockies would come in a bit under $80MM after arbitration raises.  Renck pegs it around $75MM.
• The team’s plan is to shop Garrett Atkins for a frontline starter.  If the interest is not there (why would it be?), they could switch to Matt Holliday.  Renck ponders Matt Cain and a prospect to Colorado, but that is a lot to give up for one year of Holliday.  Plus the Giants are not looking to add an outfielder.
• Dave Krieger of the Rocky Mountain News analyzes whether the Rockies could afford to re-sign Holliday.  He believes they could, but doesn’t expect them to go past five years.
• Renck sees Clint Barmes as the starting second baseman heading into ’09.  Barmes could earn around $1.7MM as a first-time arbitration player.
• Manager Clint Hurdle admitted his starters are more like #2-5s, so it’d be perfect to add a #1 and push them all back.  #1 starters are hard to come by, of course.
• Yorvit Torrealba isn’t happy as a backup but the Rockies aren’t looking to trade him.  Meanwhile Willy Taveras is a non-tender candidate.
• The Rockies hope to re-sign free agent Glendon Rusch.

• The Hardball Times has an interview with Pirates GM Neal Huntington. It’s plenty long. He talks about the dynamics in dealing with his former team, the Cleveland Indians.
• Steve Trachsel might be on his way out with the Orioles. Tough to argue against that move. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the O’s are in the cellar, and might not climb out for the rest of 2008.
• Chris Duncan down, Joe Mather up. Could Mather be the piece that rounds out a powerful outfield? Or could he be trade bait to bring back, say, a second baseman?
• Glendon Rusch is back in the majors, having been recalled by the Rockies.

Posted by Joe Pawlikowski, who writes for River Ave. Blues, a Yankees blog, and can be reached here.

Rusch joins some familiar names in the Sky Sox (Triple A) rotation: John Koronka, Josh Towers, Valerio De Los Santos, and Franklin Morales.  It looks like Cedrick Bowers has replaced Victor Zambrano in that rotation.

Renck also wonders whether the Rockies and Blue Jays could be a match given Colorado’s outfield depth.