Rox not reviving interest in free agent Santana

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- A Rockies official on Monday denied that the team was interested in free-agent right-hander Ervin Santana.

With the Rockies awaiting MRI results on righty Jhoulys Chacin, CBS Sports reported that Colorado was "the latest team to check in" on Santana, who has been seeking a multiyear contract similar to the one that onetime Rox righty Ubaldo Jimenez signed with the Orioles at four years and $48 million.

The hope is Chacin's right shoulder-biceps issue is not serious enough for the Rockies to need to make a signing. The official said the club reached out to Santana early in the free-agency process, but it backed away and does not have renewed interest for several reasons.

The Rockies went into last winter looking to keep the payroll at around $95 million and are up against that figure now. Additionally, the Rockies value Draft picks and would have to give up one to sign Santana, who turned down a qualifying offer from his former team, the Royals, that would have given him $14 million for one year.

Santana has the high strikeout-to-walk ratio the Rockies like, but he also gives up fly balls and home runs -- an American League-leading 39 with the Angels in 2012 and 26 last season. That was one of the reasons the Rockies went in a different direction for starting pitching -- trading with the Athletics for lefty Brett Anderson -- during the offseason.