Aaron Heilman gave up four runs on six hits and a walk over four innings against the Brewers Saturday.

He failed to strike anyone out, hit a batter and also served up a longball to Casey McGehee. Heilman is being stretched out this spring in an effort to compete for a spot in the rotation, and he had pitched well in his three outings prior to today. He remains most likely destined for the bullpen.

Aaron Heilman twirled three spotless innings Wednesday against the Mariners.

The right-hander didn't allow a hit or a walk and struck out a pair over his three frames. This outing comes on the heels of Heilman's first effort Saturday in which he tossed two shutout innings against the Rockies. He might be a longshot for a rotation spot, but he could force the D-backs' hand if he keeps putting up zeros.

Aaron Heilman worked a pair of scoreless innings Saturday in his start versus the Rockies.

Heilman was promised a chance to start by the Diamondbacks. He'll have to outpitch two from the group of Zach Duke, Armando Galarraga and Barry Enright this spring in order to have a chance, and even then, Arizona might prefer to keep him in the pen. He did get off to a nice start today, and it didn't hurt his case that Duke gave up one run and five hits in two innings after taking over in the third. Still, no one is going to be making judgments based on the first week of spring training games.

The Diamondbacks have agreed to a deal with free agent Aaron Heilman.

Heilman is expected to get a crack at a rotation spot in Arizona this spring. He hasn't made a start in a big league game since back in 2005, when he was a member of the Mets, but perhaps the role reversal will ignite a spark in the 32-year-old. He had a 4.50 ERA in 72 relief innings last year.

Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports that Aaron Heilman is talking to clubs about being a starting pitcher.

Heilman hasn't made a start since 2005 as a member of the Mets. The Nationals and Diamondbacks have expressed interest in Heilman this winter, according to Crasnick, though it isn't known if their plans have changed or what role they may have had in mind for him. The 32-year-old right-hander posted a 4.50 ERA and 55/26 K/BB in 72 innings with the Diamondbacks last season.

According to the Denver Post's Troy Renck, the Rockies are focused on Aaron Heilman, Chad Qualls, Jon Rauch and Grant Balfour as bullpen targets.

The Rox had been in on trade talks with the Mariners for David Aardsma, but they've deemed the asking price to be too high. Balfour is a Type A free agent, so he would cost the Rockies their first-round draft pick, while Heilman, Rauch and Qualls qualified as Type Bs.

According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Pirates have inquired about Aaron Heilman as a reliever.

Heilman declined arbitration from the Diamondbacks earlier this month, passing up what would have been a sure raise from the $2.15 million he earned this past season. Heilman went 5-8 with a 4.50 ERA in 72 innings this past year. As a Type B free agent, he would net Arizona a supplemental-round draft pick if he signed with another team.

Aaron Heilman declined arbitration from the Diamondbacks.

Heilman would have been wise to accept and score a raise from the $2.15 million that he he earned in 2010. Maybe he's drawn interest already from a team that is willing to make him a starter. Or maybe he had an agreement in order with the D'Backs. As a Type B free agent, he will net the club a supplemental round draft pick when he signs with another team.

Aaron Heilman will decline arbitration from the Diamondbacks.

Heilman could have earned a raise from the $2.15 million he earned this past season, but he is expected to look for a chance to be a starting pitcher this winter. The 32-year-old right-hander posted a 4.50 ERA and 55/26 K/BB ratio over 70 relief appearances with the Diamondbacks this past season.

The Diamondbacks offered Aaron Heilman arbitration.

Heilman was 5-8 with a 4.50 ERA in 72 innings this past year. He's a Type B free agent.

Aaron Heilman took a blown save and a loss after giving up four runs in 1 1/3 innings Wednesday against the Reds.

Heilman entered with a 1.93 ERA since the break, but the Reds got to him for five hits tonight. He's still Arizona's best option to close, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Juan Gutierrez get a look at some point.

Aaron Heilman allowed three hits Monday but didn't allow a run to cross and notched his sixth save in the win over Milwaukee.

The right-hander has looked shaky his last two times out, but he's probably still the team's option in the ninth inning right now, which is pretty sad. We'd love to see Sam Demel get a shot, but we're not betting on it. Heilman has a 3.40 ERA and 1.36 WHIP on the season.

Aaron Heilman allowed two earned runs in the ninth inning Saturday but was handed a win against the Padres.

More problems in the Arizona 'pen. Heilman has unofficially been labeled the Diamondbacks' closer, but he hasn't been good and manager Kirk Gibson may need to look elsewhere. Maybe Sam Demel will get a shot.

Aaron Heilman picked up his fifth save with a scoreless ninth Friday against the Padres.

With eight straight scoreless appearances, Heilman is back looking like the strong favorite for saves in Arizona. Expect him to get most of the opportunities, unless he begins struggling again.

Aaron Heilman figures to get the majority of the save chances moving forward, though Diamondbacks manger Kirk Gibson won't name an official closer.

"I will tell you as we look at it recently, he would shut the game down for us," Gibson said of Heilman. "But I can't say that I've named a closer. It could be anybody, it really could. It could be [left-hander Jordan] Norberto." With Chad Qualls now with the Rays and Juan Gutierrez headed to the disabled list, Heilman is the most trusted option in the Arizona pen. He should be owned in most formats.

Aaron Heilman was called upon in a save situation on Friday night against the Mets and successfully converted the chance

It was as easy a save as they come for Heilman against his former team. He entered with a 9-6 lead and didn't have to face any of the Mets' power bats. For now, it looks like Heilman is the Arizona reliever to own.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Diamondbacks are not sure they want to trade Aaron Heilman.

It's hard to see why. Heilman has been the best pitcher in the D-Backs' pen this season, however he is a free agent after 2010. In other news, Rosenthal notes that the team is getting interest on Chad Qualls and could move Adam LaRoche once the "smoke clears" with Adam Dunn.

Aaron Heilman blew a save in a 6-5 loss to the Cardinals on Monday night.

He entered the game with a 5-3 lead and runners on first and second base. It was all downhill from there, as Heilman made a crucial throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Adam Wainwright, allowing pinch-runner Jaime Garcia to score from second base. After getting Randy Winn to ground out, Adam LaRoche fielded a groundball hit by Skip Schumaker, but made an errant throw to home plate, allowing Brendan Ryan and Adam Wainwright to come around to score and secure the walkoff victory. Heilman has blown two saves in his last three chances, but it doesn't appear Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch is quite ready to give Chad Qualls another try.

Aaron Heilman picked up his first save of the season on Saturday despite allowing an earned run in 1 1/3 innings against the Tigers.

Heilman was named the Diamondbacks' closer earlier this week after Chad Qualls blew the gig. He's not off to a great start, but it's not like Arizona has a better option for the ninth inning right now.

Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch said that Aaron Heilman will get the majority of the save chances going forward.

So while Chad Qualls has been removed from the closer role, Hinch added that Heilman "might be needed in the 7th and 8th, too." It's a bit unconventional, but there are crucial outs needed throughout the course of every game and Heilman has been the club's best reliever since the start of May. He should be owned in all formats.