August 1, 2008 4:04 PM

Livan?; Rockies Aug. 1

The trade dead has passed but teams are still looking for help. The Rockies wouldn't mind adding a starting pitching, but they weren't about to overpay so they didn't get anything done by Thursday's deadline.

Faced it. When Cincinnati wants Ryan Spilborghs for Josh Fogg, the no thanks comes easy. Fogg may be a popular figure in the Rockies clubhouse, but good guys only go so far. Spilborghs is popular, too, and he's a consistent contributor, when he is healthy.

An interesting name is Livan Hernandez, designated for assignment by Minnesota Friday. The Rockies had interest in him in the off-season. Hernandez isn't going to overpower anybody, but he competes and pitches innings. He helps make the rest of a rotation better because, if nothing else, he provides a bullpen break so that the relievers are full strength for the next man in the rotation.

For now, it's all discussion. The Twins are going to take their time, seeing if they can get anyone to pick up the final $2 million of Hernandez's contract, but within 10 days they either have to deal Hernandez or release him. Once he is released, he can be signed for a prorated portion fo the big-league minimum salary, which is $380,000.

THE ROCKIES, meanwhile, will have LHP Jeff Francis back on the active roster and in the rotation on Tuesday against Washington at Coors Field.

The way the rotation sets up, the Nationals face Aaron Cook, Francis and Ubaldo Jimenez on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle made one change in the lineup on Friday from Thursday -- Chris Iannetta replaced Yorvit Torrealba at catcher. Omar Quintanilla started his second game in a row at second base in place of Jeff Baker.

THE LINEUP
ROCKIES
CF Willy Taveras (rh)
SS Troy Tulowitzki (rh)
LF Matt Holliday (rh)
RF Brad Hawpe (lh)
1B Garrett Atkins (rh)
3B Ian Stewart (lh)
C Chris Iannetta (rh)
2B Omar Quintanilla (lh)
RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (rh)

MARLINS
SS Hanley Ramirez (rh)
RF Jeremy Hermida (lh)
3B Jorge Cantu (rh)
LF Josh Willingham (rh)
2B Dan Uggla (rh)
1B Mike Jacobs (lh)
CF Cody Ross (rh)
C John Baker (lh)
RHP Chris Volstad (rh)

Posted by Tracy Ringolsby at 4:04 PM | Comments (2)