The ColoradoRockies have released third baseman Casey Blake, the club announced via Twitter Tuesday afternoon.

The move appears to make Chris Nelson the frontrunner at third base. The 26-year-old hit .250/.280/.383 with four homers and 16 RBI in 189 plate appearances last season.

There's also Jordan Pacheco to consider. The 26-year-old hit .286/.318/.369 with two homers and 14 RBI in just 88 plate appearances last season. It was small enough service time that he'll still have rookie eligibility in 2012.

But Nelson and/or Pacheco are only keeping the hot corner warm for top Rockies prospect (No. 22 overall, consensus) Nolan Arenado. He's only 20 and played in High-A last season -- where he had 20 homers, 122 RBI and 32 doubles -- so he's probably a year away, at least.

More spring moves
As for Blake, he was brought in as a free agent this past offseason after spending the previous three-plus seasons with the Dodgers (he came over in a deadline deal from the Indians in 2008). Being cut right now may be a forced retirement -- considering he'll turn 39 in August, had neck surgery last September and couldn't hold off Pacheco for the starting job this spring.

If Blake is forced to retire, he can look back on a pretty admirable 13-year career. He was never a star by any stretch, but was an important member of three different playoff teams. He has a career .264/.336/.442 line with 167 homers, 616 RBI and 644 runs.

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