Betancourt Set To Accept Arbitration

11:38pm: FoxSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi says that the Brewers have interest in Betancourt, "but their offer is unlikely to be big enough to persuade him to refuse salary arbitration with the Rockies." Morosi adds that interest in Betancourt has declined sharply after he was offered arbitration, as teams are unwilling to give up a draft pick to sign him.

6:08pm: Tracy Ringolsby of FoxSports.com reports that free agent reliever Rafael Betancourt is "ready to accept the [Rockies'] offer of arbitration." Betancourt is a Type-A free agent, so a team would have had to forfeit a high draft pick to sign him.

Colorado declined Betancourt's $5.4MM option for 2010 in mid-November, and should expect to see him get a nice raise from his $3.35MM salary in 2009 after he posted a 2.73 ERA in 56 innings. The team reportedly offered the 34-year-old righthander a two year, $7MM deal to return, however he rejected it. Had they known he'd be willing to accept arbitration, I'd have to think Colorado would have just picked up the option instead.