DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies have unofficially reached a deal with free-agent pitcher Pete Harnisch pending the results of a physical next week, the Denver Post reported.

	Pete Harnisch Starting Pitcher Colorado Rockies Profile
	2001 SEASON STATISTICS GM W L Sv K ERA 7 1 3 0 17 6.37

Rockies team spokesman Jay Alves denied an agreement had been reached, saying only they were negotiating with Harnisch.

Under the reported deal, Harnisch would earn a base salary of $250,000 and up to $500,000 if he is on the Rockies' roster on Opening Day.

Other incentives could make the contract worth as much as $1.5 million.

The reported deal also protects the team if Harnisch can't rebound from tendinitis by limiting how much of his salary they would have to pay him if he's injured or released.

Tendinitis limited Harnisch to seven games with Cincinnati last season.

The Rockies initially tried signing Harnisch to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training camp, but Harnisch wanted a major-league contract.

He will become one of eight candidates for the Rockies' five-man pitching rotation.

"If he is healthy and able to pitch, we will make room for him somehow," Rockies assistant general manager Josh Byrnes said. "With Pete we will be in a situation where we are going to have heavy-duty competition (for the rotation). It only makes us better and makes the guys compete better as well."

Harnisch has a 111-103 career record and 3.89 ERA in 321 games.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.