"Negotiations with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community over a new spring training home for the Diamondbacks have ratcheted up in the past week and the sides appear to be inching toward an agreement.

Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall said the sides are nearing the final stages of negotiations, adding that the team remains in contact with one of the other two finalists in case the deal with Salt River doesn't materialize.

The facility, which the Diamondbacks would share with the Colorado Rockies, would be paid for by the tribe and built near Loop 101 and Indian Bend Road.

The Diamondbacks formally notified Tucson last month that 2010 would be their final Cactus League season in Tucson, where the club has trained at Tucson Electric Park since its inception in 1998.

Fort McDowell Yavapai is believed to have been one of the three finalists. The third is not known.

Gordon

Right-hander Tom Gordon threw his fourth bullpen session since going on the disabled list. He said he would throw another on Saturday and is expecting to face hitters in a simulated game at Chase Field next week.

With the season near the halfway point, Gordon wants to get back to action as soon as possible and would prefer not to go on a rehab assignment.

"I still would like to listen to what they have to say in the sense that they have done this a whole lot more than I have, as far as rehabbing players," he said. "I'm definitely not just going to say no.""