The Rockies’ 59-103 record in 2023 was third-worst in baseball, leaving general manager Bill Schmidt no shortage of paths to explore when searching for upgrades. However, although the Rockies were somewhat surprisingly one of MLB’s lightest-hitting clubs in ’23 — 17th in batting average, 25th in on-base percentage, 20th in slugging percentage and 30th in wRC+ — Schmidt said at this week’s Winter Meetings that pursuing a power bat isn’t high on his list of priorities (via Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post). Upgrading the pitching staff and deepening manager Bud Black’s bench will be the greater focus, per Schmidt. Specifically, he’d like to add a veteran backup catcher behind Elias Diaz (via DNVR’s Patrick Lyons).
Both areas could clearly use augmentation. The pitching staff, in particular, was dreadful — due in no small part to injuries. An already shaky Rockies staff lost both German Marquez and Antonio Senzatela to Tommy John surgery last year. Each of Kyle Freeland, Austin Gomber, Ryan Feltner, Connor Seabold, Chase Anderson, Ty Blach, Peter Lambert and Chris Flexen started at least 10 games for the Rox. None did so with an ERA lower than Freeland’s 5.03. Colorado starters posted an MLB-worst 5.91 ERA, and things weren’t any better in the bullpen, where the Rockies sported an MLB-worst 5.41 ERA and a 29th-ranked 20.4% strikeout rate.
Schmidt has already added one arm to the rotation mix, buying low on Guardians righty Cal Quantrill following a down season. Coors Field isn’t exactly an ideal spot for a pitcher to try to rebuild his value, but Quantrill did post a 3.08 ERA in 368 innings from 2020-22. Shoulder inflammation limited him to 19 starts in 2023 (and perhaps contributed to an ugly 5.24 ERA), but Quantrill took the ball 32 times as recently as 2022. He was a perfectly sensible addition for a Rockies team that’s desperate for arms but lacking in high-end prospects needed to acquire difference-making pitchers. Most available high-end trade targets are controllable for two or even just one year anyhow, and a Rockies team that’s at best an extreme long-shot to contend probably doesn’t want to sacrifice too much long-term value for short-term upgrades.
Because of their long odds at playoff contention, it seems the Rockies are intent on taking a look at a series of young players rather than displacing them with more expensive free agents. Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar will get another opportunity to provide some value with his bat after a brilliant defensive showing in his rookie season but a lackluster offensive performance (.253/.287/.408). The 2024 season will be something of a mulligan for second baseman Brendan Rodgers, who missed much of the 2023 season on the injured list. Nolan Jones will look to build on an impressive rookie showing, likely in right field.
Schmidt indicated that first base will likely belong to Kris Bryant, though occasional right field work is also on the table (link via Lyons). Ryan McMahon, signed through 2027, is locked in at the hot corner. The Rox re-signed veteran Charlie Blackmon to serve as their primary DH before the season even opened, guaranteeing him a surprisingly strong $13MM salary in the process.
Saunders writes that the Rockies also have higher hopes for outfielders Sean Bouchard and Brenton Doyle. The former suffered a ruptured biceps tendon prior to the season and missed most of the year, but he’s produced a massive .304/.429/.563 slash in 140 plate appearances between 2022-23. Doyle was perhaps baseball’s least-productive hitter in 2023, batting .203/.250/.343 with a 35% strikeout rate in 431 plate appearances. He also posted flat-out elite defensive grades, however, drawing enormous positives from Defensive Runs Saved (19), Ultimate Zone Rating (24.5) and Outs Above Average (16) in well south of a full season’s worth of innings. With that type of defensive wizardry, he only needs to clear a low bar at the plate to be a valuable everyday player, but last year’s output wasn’t enough.
Improving the bench shouldn’t be a difficult proposition. Brian Serven is the current favorite for backup catching work but carries just a .195/.248/.314 line in 228 MLB plate appearances. Bouchard and/or 24-year-old Hunter Goodman could get regular work in right field or carve out a bench role, but both have minor league options remaining. Utility infielder Alan Trejo has hit .243/.292/.367 in 402 MLB plate appearances over the past three seasons. He’s versatile but also out of options, and a more productive utility infielder should be available.
The main question for the Rockies’ bench could pertain to former top prospect Elehuris Montero, who’s yet to cement himself at either infield corner. The presence of McMahon, Bryant and Blackmon leaves the 26-year-old Montero, who’s hit just .239/.283/.428 in 492 MLB plate appearances, without a path to regular playing time. But Montero is also out of minor league options, so he’ll have to crack the big league roster or else be either traded or exposed to waivers. Montero was a notable piece of the Rockies’ Nolan Arenado return from the Cardinals, but he’s something of an odd man out with regard to the current allotment of playing time. Then again, Bryant has spent ample time on the injured list in recent seasons, and Montero could be the first man up should he again need time on the shelf.
The Rockies currently project for a payroll of about $142MM, per Roster Resource, which is around $30MM shy of last year’s franchise-record Opening Day payroll (a bit more than $172MM). There’s room for the club to spend, but convincing free agent pitchers to sign on the dotted line and call Coors Field home is no small feat. And the Rockies’ farm system generally isn’t well regarded, which makes adding arms on the trade market difficult, too (hence the buy-low pickup of Quantrill).
Ohtani to Colorado
He might hit 70 home runs if he played 81 games at Coors.
No Rockies player has ever even hit 50 homers in a season and yet people come up with these ridiculous notions. Coors does not allow MORE homers, but it will allow longer homers. But those longer homers, no matter how many times they are replayed, still just count as one run.
Lmao! Dude..you can’t be serious. If Coors allows LONGER homers, wouldn’t it make sense that it also allows LONGER fly balls that sometimes turn into homers?
Yep. Although it is true that the field is a lot bigger so I don’t think HRs increase nearly as much as slugging does at Coors.
Have they ever had a true HR Hitter?
Finatic-Not in the last few years.
Matt Holiday, Cargo, Cj Cron and Charlie’s hit a few hrs. I would say yes they’ve had their fair share of sluggers.
Coors does allow more homers than average, with a Statcast park factor of 108 for HR. But that’s ninth overall, with the Reds (131) and Dodgers (122) leading the way.
No because the fences are much further back than most stadiums. Those longer fly balls end up as warning track fodder. So that 350 foot homer at sea level is probably a 375 foot homer at Coors. But that 315 foot homer at sea level is likely a 340 foot fly out or double.
5 Teams could lose 100+ this year. Brutal teams
They need a competent Front Office and Owner.
Agreed. A decent business and baseball plan may help as well.
The Rockies will trade the farm for Cease and Burnes and lose 97 games cause the Rockies.
The Rockies have never done anything like that in their history. Not once.
So Hampton and Neagle don’t count?
Those guys were free agents, not trade acquisitions.
Pretty sure Drew Smyly can be easily acquired.
They need to leave Colorado
Why would they? They have a great fanbase. They were in the top half in attendance this year despite being a 100 loss team that hasn’t made the playoffs in 5 years and has never won the division
Actually, I retract my statement. They need a dome. I honestly feel bad for the franchise because no pitcher wants to go there and they obviously can’t develop any good ones. It’s unfair to their front office that they have to deal with the stigma of “you don’t want to pitch in Colorado” because of the altitude issues. Maybe a dome would alleviate that with some specific air changes inside the stadium? Just spitballing
What they need is new ownership
You hear fans of all markets calling for “new owners”, even for successful teams, but in Colorado’s case it’s fully warranted.
Cincy needs a new owner…just saying 😉
The Braves have a guy they’ll give you and probably even toss in a few buckets of baseballs
Strider?
That sounds like Vogelbach. PLEASE somebody take him!!
Vogelbach has come to the realization that a 320 lb bowling ball has a very limited future in MLB. At last report, Vogelbach was said to be deep into negotiations with both “Country Buffet” and “Golden Corral” to eat up, I mean head-up their East Coast operations.
Colorado needs all the help it can get, although their farm is rated relatively high. Doesn’t always translate however
Makes sense isnt weed legal in Colorado?
2nd worst FO in baseball, ahead of only the Angels. For the past 5 years, the Rockies should have been committing to a rebuild but have instead chosen to try to field a lukewarm team that might be .500 if everything goes well. And still, after losing 103 games, no commitment to rebuild. At this point, they can just expect to be perpetually bad for many years.
The more I think about it the Red Birds might have been smart to strike first in the pitching marketing. No Gibson and Lynn are underwhelming but they do have have a history of success and eat innings, plus they didn’t cost that much. Now all I read are about 20 teams looking to upgrade their starting pitching. By Spring Training the early signing might look better and better.
market
This team is a mess
One of the weakest offenses in baseball all while playing in what might be the most hitter-friendly ballpark in the history of the game and you’re worried about improving the bench?!? Schmidt must feel incredibly secure in his job to state these offseason plans in public.
I find it amazing that folks continue to bash Fisher, despite CO doing everything they can to lose 100.
Schmidt indicated that first base will likely belong to Kris Bryant,
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The day they signed Bryant, I recommended that CO trade him to the RS, get no prospects in return, and pay down $52M of his salary. That’s how bad his contract was, on the day that he signed.
Now the cost to trade him might be closer to $100M.
They need something like Cleveland’s pitching developmental system. If they’re going to overcome that park’s effects
There should be plenty of playing time for Montero at 1B, since they can only count on Bryant to be healthy for maybe 50 games. Toglia and Goodman can pitch in there as well.
And Trejo is an adequate utility IF so I don’t see replacing him as a high priority.
It will be difficult for Colorado to complete because their ballpark will make it difficult/impossible to attract quality fa pitchers and difficult to retain a pitcher if they ever develop 2 via their farm system. Also, their aaa team plays in a hitters haven thus it makes it difficult to evaluate their talent
Rockies need everything…should dump Bryan see if the Yankees will eat some or Braves? ….Miami? Snakes need an RH bat, but same division.
KB is overpaid, poorly motivated and extremely injury prone. Good luck.
The Rockies are continually criticized for not being able to develop pitching.
Yet all these teams with the genius analytics, systems & labs, multitudes of coaches & development staff: “20 teams searching for Pitching Help”.
This hack Steve Adams needs to learn that you don’t need a freaking comma before “too.”