So today it will become official that Brian Fuentes will turn down the Rockies offer for arbitration and seek opportunity elsewhere. The Rockies will get two draft picks in compensation when he does. Arizona's expected draft haul next year keeps getting smaller, with Brandon Lyon expected to accept his team's offer dropping what was looking like seven bonus picks a few weeks ago to just four. Lyon accepting would help Arizona's bullpen, which had been looking like a weak point, but it will also limit the Diamondbacks to $5 million to $6 million to spend for the rest of their needs.

The Rockies, meanwhile, aren't expected to be major players in the winter meetings. Tracy Ringolsby paints a much more realistic picture of the available players for trade than the Thomas Harding article linked by Russ last night, probably the key news is that the team intends on re-signing Scott Podsednik in the wake of a potential Willy Taveras trade. Also, the aritcle makes it pretty clear that Garrett Atkins won't be traded this winter, since Kevin Slowey, Joe Saunders or a similar pitcher won't be made available given the way Atkins' bat has declined the last couple of seasons. Local products Josh Bard (if Torrealba is traded) and Will Ohman are also listed as possible targets.

Patrick Saunders' overview in the Post places Joe Beimel at the center of the Rockies attention, but in a blog post Troy Renck points out that Beimel has other suitors and the Rockies aren't a favorite to land him.