Jason Marquis had a 23-18 mark in two seasons with the Cubs. (Paul Beaty/Associated Press)The Colorado Rockies bolstered their pitching rotation Tuesday with the acquisition of right-hander Jason Marquis from the Chicago Cubs.
Chicago received reliever Luis Vizcaino in return for Marquis and cash considerations — rumoured to be $1 million US toward Marquis' $9.75 million US salary.
"The addition of Jason to our ballclub brings us the veteran leadership and depth to our rotation that we have been seeking to add this off-season," Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said in a statement.
It was the second off-season trade for pitching by Colorado, which sent outfielder Matt Holliday to the Oakland Athletics for closer Huston Street, left-handed starter Greg Smith and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez on Nov. 12.
The Rockies also signed free-agent reliever Alan Embree for $2.25 million US on Dec. 13.
Marquis, 30, posted an 11-9 record last season with a 4.53 earned-run average in 29 appearances, including 28 starts.
He is 79-70 lifetime with a 4.55 ERA, four complete games and a save in 257 appearances (198 starts) over nine MLB seasons with the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals and Cubs.
Vizcaino struggled in his first campaign with Colorado, finishing 1-2 with a 5.28 ERA in 43 trips out of the bullpen.
The 34-year-old right-hander is 34-27 overall with seven saves in 528 relief appearances since he broke into the major leagues with Oakland on July 23, 1999.
"I have not seen much of him in person in the last year," Cubs GM Jim Hendry said. "But our scouts still felt like he had enough juice, enough savvy to pitch in the seventh, eighth inning."
Vizcaino has pitched for the Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees and Rockies.
With files from the Associated Press
