Rockies non-tender CF Taveras

Dec 13, 2008 - 6:18 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- The Colorado Rockies on Friday non-tendered center fielder Willy Taveras.

Taveras, who turns 27 on December 25, hit .251 in 133 games last season while leading the major leagues with 68 stolen bases.

He owns a .283 career average with 169 steals over parts of five seasons with the Houston Astros and Rockies.

The move clears a spot for top prospect Dexter Fowler, who hit .335 with a .421 on-base percentage, nine homers and 20 stolen bases at Class AA Tulsa in 2008. A member of the bronze medal-winning Team USA at the Beijing Olympics over the summer, Fowler went 4-for-26 in a brief September callup with the Rockies.

Colorado also decided not to tender a contract to infielder Jonathan Herrera.

The 24-year-old Herrera hit .230 (14-for-61) with three RBI in 28 games for the Rockies during his first taste of the major leagues last season.