PHOENIX -- The Rockies and Diamondbacks formally agreed on the players in a Larry Walker-Matt Williams deal Monday, but now face the bigger challenges -- getting Walker and Williams to waive the no-trade clauses in their contracts.

	Williams

	Walker

Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo met with Williams on Tuesday in an attempt to clear the way for the four-for-one trade that would bring Walker from Colorado to Arizona. The Rockies would send right fielder Walker to Arizona in exchange for third baseman Williams, first baseman Erubiel Durazo, outfielder David Dellucci and reliever Bret Prinz.

Under major league collective bargaining rules, if a deal is in place, teams have 72 hours to contact the players involved to try to persuade them to waive their no-trade rights.

"There are a number of things that have to happen," Diamondbacks general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said. "Matt Williams approving it is one of them, Larry Walker approving it is one of them."

No decision came out of the Williams-Colangelo meeting, but none was expected, Garagiola said.

Garagiola characterized the deal as still in the works. The next step would be for the Rockies to talk to Williams.

"I would expect that to happen fairly soon," Garagiola said.

Walker reportedly will be asked to extend his salary deferments for each of the remaining three years on his contract, which has $38.5 million remaining. He already has agreed to defer $6 million from his $12.5 million salary in 2003.

While Walker has indicated he would be interested in playing for Arizona because the team is a World Series contender, Williams long has said he wants to remain close to his children, who live in the Phoenix area.

However, Williams probably would not be the Diamondbacks starting third baseman next season, if Craig Counsell recovers sufficiently from neck surgery. Williams, who turns 37 on Nov. 28, has one year and $10 million remaining on his contract.

Colorado could tempt him by adding another year, but that would work against the Rockies' goal of ridding themselves of expensive, long-term entanglements.

Williams, who has missed 292 games the past three seasons because of injuries, knows Colorado general manager Dan O'Dowd well from their days with the Cleveland Indians.

O'Dowd continues to work on a deal to move left-handed pitcher Denny Neagle. The New York Mets have discussed a trade to send outfielder Jeromy Burnitz and shortstop Rey Ordonez to the Rockies.

Walker, who also has a history of injuries, returned this week to his offseason home in Florida from a vacation in the Caribbean, and Williams returned Monday night from a hunting trip.

Walker, who turns 36 on Dec. 1, told the Denver Post on Monday that he is not inclined to veto a trade if he's not wanted in Colorado.

"If a team is trying to trade you like the Rockies obviously are me, I have to ask myself, 'Do I really want to stay where I am not wanted," Walker said. "I enjoy Denver and my family likes it there. But does it really make any sense to veto a trade? I don't think that would sit too well."

Following his morning meeting with Williams, Colangelo left for the major league owners meeting in Dallas.

The Rockies already have traded Mike Hampton and his big contract to Florida, with the Marlins subsequently dealing the left-hander to Atlanta. Walker has averaged 30 homers, 90 RBI and a .340 batting average in his seven seasons in Colorado.

If Arizona completes the deal for the left-handed-hitting Walker, it probably means the team would not re-sign center fielder Steve Finley. Finley's presence would add to an already left-handed-heavy lineup.

Danny Bautista, who bats right-handed, presumably would move to center.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.