Julian Tavarez Designated

8:12pm: The Rockies have strong interest in Tavarez, and Troy Renck thinks a deal could be reached within a couple of days.  The Red Sox are just trying to get some kind of prospect out of it.

2:07pm: The Red Sox have designated Tavarez for assignment.  Nick Cafardo says trade talks with the Rockies and at least two other teams didn’t lead anywhere, even when the Sox offered to eat most of the contract.  The Red Sox asked for a pitching prospect from the Rockies but couldn’t get it.

MONDAY, 9:57am: Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says the Rockies’ talks for Tavarez are dead.  His guess is that the Rockies will end up with Josh Fogg and won’t have to give up anyone.

SUNDAY: On May 8th, Rob Bradford of the Boston Herald reported that the Rockies remained interested in trading for Julian Tavarez, but no advancements had been made in the talks.  On May 9th, Rockies owner Dick Monfort said the team had no plans to acquire a fifth starter.  First, the Rox wanted to try 22 year-old rookie Greg Reynolds.  Today in his big league debut Reynolds allowed four runs in 5.2 innings to the woeful San Diego offense.  Franklin Morales could return to the team in a couple of weeks; he tossed five no-hit innings in Triple A today.

This evening, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe learned that the Rockies’ talks for Tavarez are ongoing.  The Red Sox already traded Bryan Corey; Tavarez could be next.  Bartolo Colon could join Boston’s rotation before month’s end.

Tavarez, 35, pitched in 51 games for the Rockies in 2000.  He set a career high with 11 wins that year.  His groundballing style sounds like a decent fit in Coors.  He has about $2.9MM left on his contract this year.