Garrett Atkins will be able to attend his scheduled workout Friday at the Athletes' Performance Institute in Carson, Calif. He was concerned about missing it because he and the Rockies were scheduled for an arbitration hearing in Phoenix.

The hearing became moot Tuesday when Atkins and the Rockies agreed on a $7.05 million contract for this season.

The deal also includes performance bonuses totaling $125,000 based on plate appearances - $12,500 each for 600 and 625, $25,000 each for 650 and 675, and $50,000 for 700.

"I was working 20-hour days, finalizing our arbitration exhibits and we were ready to go," said Jeff Blank, Atkins' agent. "At the end, Garrett made a decision to sign and focus on the team and get ready for spring training."

Atkins, 29, will go to spring training as the Rockies' regular third baseman. He also is expected to fill in at first base for Todd Helton, something Atkins did last year when he hit .286 with 21 home runs and a team-leading 99 RBI.

"I got a suit, but I won't have to go pick up a shirt and tie," Atkins said from California, explaining those sartorial necessities were in Denver. "It's just a hassle going down there (to Phoenix). You don't want to build any bad blood between yourself and the Rockies. That's the main goal."

Atkins made $4.44 million last year. He filed for $7.95 million, the third-highest figure among the 46 players who exchanged figures with their clubs. The Rockies offered $6.65 million, leaving a $7.3 million midpoint.

The sides settled below the midpoint, but the key point is they settled. The Rockies never have gone to a hearing with a position player. Their three previous hearings were with relief pitchers: A loss to Dennys Reyes in 2002 and wins over Sun-Woo Kim (2006) and Brian Fuentes (2008).

Atkins will be the second-highest-paid player on the club, behind Helton, whose salary this year will be $16.6 million.

Atkins is eligible for free agency after the 2010 season, so he and the Rockies can go through the arbitration process after this season.

But that's a matter for down the road. The Rockies, too, were prepared for a hearing but were glad matters didn't drag on and reach that final step.

"It allows us to eliminate another distraction," general manager Dan O'Dowd said. "The most important thing is to get ready for the season and get everybody in the proper frame of mind to play as a team.

"The thing that I struggle with all these times is when you're talking about somebody's salary, it's an individual thing; it's not tied to the team at all. And I think the less we have to focus on that in spring training and the more we can focus on what we need to focus on, the better off we're going to be."