The Colorado Rockies added depth to their rotation, acquiring durable right-hander Jason Marquis from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday for reliever Luis Vizcaino. The 30-year-old Marquis was 11-9 with a 4.53 ERA last season for the NL Central champion Cubs. The Rockies also receive cash as part of the deal.

If the deal sending Luis Vizcaino to the Cubs in exchange for Jason Marquis goes through, the Rockies will have rid themselves of an expensive and ineffective reliever and added a more experienced starter.

The deal was on hold pending both players passing physicals. Colorado also would get more than $1 million cash in the trade, to help offset the difference in the guaranteed amount remaining on Marquis' contract (nearly $10 million) and Vizcaino's contract ($4 million).

Marquis joins a rotation that will include Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez and Jeff Francis and provides insurance, if needed, should Francis have any lingering problems from the shoulder inflammation that sidelined him for five weeks last season and prevented him from pitching after mid-September.