Feb. 12: Colorado has officially announced the Quintana deal. The veteran will take the 40-man roster spot of right-hander Jeff Criswell, who was placed on the 60-day IL. Criswell had Tommy John surgery in March.
Feb 10: The Rockies have followed up their Michael Lorenzen and Tomoyuki Sugano signings with another free agent deal for a veteran starter. Colorado is reportedly in agreement with left-hander Jose Quintana on a one-year deal, pending a physical. The ACES client is guaranteed $6MM. The Rox will need to open a spot on the 40-man roster once the signing is finalized. Jeff Criswell, who underwent Tommy John surgery last March, is a 60-day injured list candidate.
Quintana signs on the eve of Spring Training after waiting until early March to put pen to paper last winter. He settled for a deferred $4.25MM guarantee with the Brewers that was probably below his expectations coming off a 3.75 ERA in 31 starts for the Mets. Quintana managed decent results in Milwaukee as well, allowing 3.96 earned runs per nine over 131 2/3 innings.
There weren’t a whole lot of encouraging underlying numbers. Quintana’s results have outstripped his peripherals for essentially four consecutive seasons. He has never been a power pitcher, but his already pedestrian velocity and swing-and-miss rates have dropped into his mid-30s. Last year’s 16% strikeout rate was his lowest since the 14% mark he posted in his 2012 rookie season. His sinker and four-seam fastball each land in the 90-91 mph range on average. None of the southpaw’s pitches miss many bats, and last season’s 6.9% swinging strike rate was the second lowest mark for a pitcher who reached 100 innings.
Although the 37-year-old doesn’t have a huge ceiling at this stage of his career, he should raise the floor at the back of Warren Schaeffer’s rotation. The pitch-to-contact approach keeps his walks in check. Quintana doesn’t have notable platoon splits and mixes five pitches (sinker, changeup, curveball, four-seam fastball, and slurve). The deeper arsenal seems to be of particular interest to the Rox’s front office and coaching staff. Lorenzen throws seven distinct pitches, while Sugano has a six-pitch mix.
“We’ve spoken about this internally a lot,” first-year pitching coach Alon Leichman told Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post last week. “We want big arsenals. We think big arsenals will be harder to game plan against. You know, if a guy has six, seven pitches, that’s harder to game plan for than if a guy has two or three, right? So we think that’s an advantage. The more weapons you have, the more random you can be.”
The Rockies have committed just over $19MM to add the trio of veteran starters. They’ll join Kyle Freeland as rotation locks. Ryan Feltner and Chase Dollander would probably compete for the fifth starter role as things stand. There’s a decent chance an injury during Spring Training clarifies things. Feltner missed the majority of last season with back issues. Quintana himself had a pair of IL stints for a shoulder impingement and calf strain, respectively.
While it remains arguably the worst rotation in the majors, the Rockies don’t want a repeat of last year’s historically awful performance. Colorado’s 2025 starting staff had a 6.65 ERA that was the highest in any full MLB season in history. This season’s group should at least be markedly better than that.
None of Lorenzen, Sugano or Quintana are likely to fetch much at the trade deadline even if they’re managing decent results away from Coors Field. They’re all sixth starters/swing types on contenders. There’s nevertheless value in having experienced arms around to take a few innings and work with Dollander and prospects Gabriel Hughes and Sean Sullivan, each of whom could be up at some point in 2026. They’re less likely to need to rely on McCade Brown and Tanner Gordon for early-season starts.
This will push Colorado’s projected payroll to $120MM, as calculated by RosterResource. They opened last season at $122MM and seem set for a nearly identical spending pattern in Paul DePodesta’s first season as president of baseball operations.
Jesse Rogers of ESPN first reported the Rockies and Quintana had an agreement. Robert Murray of FanSided reported the $6MM guarantee. Image courtesy of Mark Hoffman, Imagn Images.
Trade capital
the Rockies notoriously do nothing every trade deadline. They traded McMahon and Kinney last year and that was it. They’ve let Elias Diaz, Daniel Bard, Kyle Freeland, Trevor Story peak, rot on the vine, and then expire.
New regime. The past means nothing regarding what they will do going forward.
You think the Rockies ownership will try to win games this year?
“ You think the Rockies ownership will try to win games this year”
This is really an irrelevant question because their talent level is so far behind the other teams that this is not possible.
They’re bringing in boring innings eaters which is a good start because that rotation is terrible and these guys can at least give you length while you try to actually put a development plan in place.
@Hi Flew Agreed. Paul is doing everything he can to field a better team. I’m still on boat where a new owner would be best. The Waltons bought the Broncos and if they bought the Rockies I believe a turnaround would happen immediately.
On another complete opposite note: Bring in the left-center fence. Similar to what the Royals just did. I’d like more homeruns than a barrage of singles and doubles. Heck even construct a tower there and call it Coors Castle. Be a great fan experience.
“You think the Rockies ownership will try to win games this year?”
What exactly could ownership do? This team has so many holes that they could’ve signed Bichette, Tucker, and Bregman pushing their payroll above 250M and they’d still finish last in their division. There’s no amount of money they can spend to make them competitive in the NL West this year.
@bbb
Jake Bird too.
Maybe. Depends on market. Pirates unbelievably got Oviedo for him. He was better then. Doesn’t look to be someone you would want but not enough sellers he will get you something.
How much trade capital will any of these arms have if they all have ERA’s over 5?
Hopefully teams aren’t looking at era but I often wonder.
No one wanted Quintana now for 5 6 7 million other than Colorado. What can he do at his age to make them change their mind? You need someone desperate enough to give you a 40 man drop or lotto ticket.
MC
“ERA’s over 5?”
Now that the Rockies have changed course, I’m pretty sure no one is looking at ERA
Actually, and unfortunately, fans look at ERA. And they get unhappy with GMs who trade for pitchers with ERAs over 5 (unless they pitch well after the trade). Sugano had an ERA approaching 5 before getting to Coors, his FIP was over 5 and Quintana’s FIP was 4.88. Thiis could get interesting. These guys may eat innings but while doing so are likely to keep scoreboard operators busy.
I was very much hoping that the Sacramento A’s would sign Quintana. I think Quintana would have added more than Civale or Barlow.
Id agree, the Rockies did well adding Quintana and Tomoyuki Sugano. Both were pitching well down the stretch last season.
Neither an ace at this point in their careers but two great players, great careers, and fans can get behind both pitchers every start because both have that special something in that regard.
Quintana certainly would’ve helped Sacramento. I’m also disappointed the A’s didn’t bring Chris Bassitt back into the fold. Thought he could’ve been a good mentor to all their young pitchers, as well as solidify the rotation. Shame to waste such a dynamic position player group with paper thin pitching staff. Maybe they will shock the baseball world and sign Gallen, but highly unlikely.
Steady back of the rotation pitcher.
Ideally yes, but with Colorado he could be the ace.
rockies have low-key been doing stuff. lorenzen, sugano, quintana, etc
so what? these are pointless moves. replacement-level veterans on 1 year deals. doesnt move the needle not even a fraction of an inch. They’ll finish last place again, and again for the next 10 years.
Bbb (username checks out)
What moves do you think the Rockies could have made this off-season that would have kept them out of last place either this season or in the foreseeable future
Smart moves signing pitchers to eat innings and waiting out the market. Smartvl to sign useful players to trade at the deadline and add more prospects to the system. All they need to do is identify and trade for useful pieces that fit their future plans. Young pitching, young hitters. It will be hard times for a bit but there is no quick fix for a rebuild.
Hard to get much worse than the last 3 years in Colorado. They’ll win more than 43 this year because it’s extremely hard not to.
Well, the Dodgers have made it completely pointless to attempt to compete within the division, and the Rockies have no core rising through the farm, I’m curious what else they *could* even be trying to do?
They’re spending money on free agents, so that they’ll still get revenue sharing, which they’ll have to reinvest some of in the roster. That’s what revenue sharing is for, and what the Rockies are doing is good enough for the league not to pressure them into selling.
That’s the business of baseball. Someone’s got to lose, and the small budget teams get paid regardless if they win or not, so they don’t have a lot of motivation to gamble the guaranteed business they have. They keep the hometown heroes around, spend enough to keep the league off their backs, and the people still come to that beautiful park to hang out for an evening and drink beer (among other things).
This is the reason for the salary floor argument.
Someone has gotta take the mound and eat the innings. Quintana isn’t a world beater, but he’s an upgrade to what the Rockies had.
Every guy they sign is their new ACE!
Each one is better than the last. The trend is promising.
They should do more of these signings.
Why not try to be competitive while keeping the payroll low.
Depends. Is it a lottery year for them? I don’t know what’s going in Colorado. But if 10th pick is best you can do be as competitive as you want. Not sure Quintana types make them that competitive. I’d rather try to develop someone with some team control. In house or someone else’s failed prospect.
His ERA gonna be crazy!
If Sugano got 5.1MM and Lorenzen got 8MM – what’s Quintana gonna get 10MM?
13+
jc
“If Sugano got 5.1MM and Lorenzen got 8MM – what’s Quintana gonna get 10MM?”
FGDC projections. FIP, WAR/IP
Sugano 4.86, 1.1/125
Lorenzen 4.92, 1.1/143
Quintana 4.67, 1.5/143
It seems like Quintana would have had better options.
I wouldn’t want him on a contending team. Someone you settle for when all other attempts fail. 6m good $ for him. I’d want to be at 3 or 4. Think he did well.
Agreed. No clue why he didn’t end up a Padre, but he should’ve.
Yes or Pirate.
Good for them. Getting some good innings guys that’ll allow them to build Dollander up properly.
Quintana good teammate and leader I have heard.
BV
They aren’t going to be competitive. Unless it’s not having for the worst record in the NL
I think they’d be better off giving time to Feltner, Brown, Gordon, Ohi, etc to see if something clicks
Wow, the Rockies might actually be trying to win some games this season
naw
just lose by a bit less
I’d be OK with both to be honest. I got tired of turning games off in the 3rd inning because the Rox were down by 10 and I didn’t feel there was a point in watching anymore. I don’t mind a blowout every now and then because then you can hear some funny announcer stories or trivia or other such things. But when it happens too many times, the announcers run out of stories and trivia and then they start becoming very annoying.
There was that game last year, at Coors of course, where the Pirates scored 9 in the 1st and the Rox came back and won. Hope you didn’t give up early on that one.
No I didn’t. It was a Friday night and I didn’t have anything else to do that night. I actually “live commented” during that game on this site during a conversation with someone. Probably one of the most fun games I have seen in years. It was a classic Coors Field game, but unfortunately the majority of games didn’t turn out that well.
Rockies are bargain shopping. Keeps the MLBPA off their backs and gives them several filler arms/lottery tickets. Hope all these agents were smart enough to negotiate reassignment bonuses.
Bryant contract helps. I think that’s his name. I haven’t heard anything about him since he went there. Heard got hurt and hurt and thats it. There’s just a few teams I don’t hear anything about. Not making fun of them. It’s just mlb marketing or something. No idea what year rebuild is or when they are supposed to come out. Heard they hired guy from money ball. All I know.
Rockies have never tanked and cut salary to boost their draft picks. They’ve just been terrible with drafting and developing. And then spent stupid money in free agency. They really are run the way a typical armchair GM wants their team to be run by simply signing the biggest flashiest name available all the time.
BG
“signing the biggest flashiest name available all the time.”
The Rockies?
The Rockies do this?
Benny Montgomery, Zac Veen, Ethan Holliday, Kris Bryant, Jordan Beck… all guys they’ve picked up based on name value or a freak athletic trait that hasn’t translated.
They don’t have access to the talent that the Dodgers or Yankees have. So, like the Angels, they have poured a ton of fruitless money into the biggest names that no one else wants.
Nobody else in the league would want Beck or Holliday?
They haven’t had issues with the MLBPA in the past. I am not sure if they get revenue sharing or not.
Everyone gets revenue sharing. I believe they contribute more than they receive.
Pirates options for a lefty are dwindling. Still hoping for Corbin.
The Pirates would downgrade their rotation with Corbin. At that point, just run it with Barco.
Urquidy might be the plan. Mlod.
I like Corbin better than Quintana. Hopefully cheaper too. Anderson still out there works.
I like someone just for depth. Nice having Barco on standby vs him getting hurt and having lesser options.
Bassitt Giolito more expensive but options.
Mlod should remain as a long reliever. He stinks as a starter
Doesn’t matter. Unless you are extremely lucky with injuries worse pitchers than Mlod could start.
No one wants to sign a one year deal to pitch at Coors; it is no way to build up your value for the next contract. With pitchers reporting to spring training, people get a little desperate and $6 million is a lot of money, but I doubt the Rockies had their pick of the remaining litter. If you were Corbin or Anderson, would you want to go to Colorado if you had any other options?
It’s not going to be a great year for them but it’s encouraging to see the Rockies moving in the right direction.
what other directions can one go from rock bottom?
Let’s watch and find out.
For now, it seems, Monfort has stepped aside and is allowing DePodesta to do his job. Will Monfort give DePodesta the 3-5 years it will take to change the Rox culture and develop a strong minor league pipeline?
Don’t follow the Rockies closely. I have seen a lot of criticism of team ownership. But while they’ve often been accused of intransigence and their spending hasn’t been what it should be or what is needed, I’ve not seen any claim that they’ve shown impatience.
so they wait until February to do anything. after all the free agents have already signed. and then they pick up the leftover crumbs.
sorry, but what a loser organization. Good grief.
Stop being so negative. Better than the Nationals.
If they aren’t contending no reason to spend $ just to win 75 to 80 games. It’s either we can get a wildcard or who cares. If it’s a year they can’t get a lottery then winning 75 80 won’t hurt.
Always like Jose, good for him.
Very excited to see the Rockies actually trying to build an MLB club. Sure they might not make the playoffs, but they might not lose 120 either. I’d be thrilled with a 70-75 win season.
2004 Tigers went 72-90 after posting 43-119 the previous year.
It is very possible as long as teams TRY and do not just accept losing so they can get high draft picks. Building a farm is nice, but it is not the main goal. I’d rather have last place affiliates on every level as long as the big league club wins. But when I see fans say things like “the W/L record doesn’t matter until 2028 or so” it really makes me question the whole future of sports in general. Just a little disheartening.
That creep can role, man.
That’s just, like, your opinion, man.
Good luck spinning in Coors. I don’t see it.
It will tale more than a human “Q” to turn this franchise around.
Colorado will need the omnipotent one from Star Trek and perhaps the entire “Q Continuum” to dethrone the Dodgers. 🙂
I’m very pleased with the moves that the new Rockies’ management have made so far. Next, I’m hoping that they sign a power-hitting first baseman or DH.
What power hitting 1b dh free agent you have in mind?
AI GM and Motor City: Sign Nathaniel Lowe or Rhys Hoskins to plag 1B. My guess is that Edouard Julien was acquired by the Rockies to play 2B.
I thought they signed Edouard Julien who was with Minnesota to play 1B? Rhys Hoskins us still out there and wouldn’t be a bad pickup.
I like the Sugano and Quintana signings. The Rockies are adding two guys along with Lorenzen and Freeland who have six pitch arsenals and can truly mix and match their pitches. Secondly, Clint Hurdle once said if you could have a starting rotation that throws for 960 Innings per season you had a postseason starting rotation.
Ideally, you’re going with Freeland, Lorenzon, Sugano, Quintana and Feltner… BUT, if Dollander proves he’s ready to take the next step; what’s keeping Schaeffer from running a 6 man starting rotation?
Six starters – 26 starts per season – and one extra day of rest in between starts could turn out to be duplicateable process.
And… Using that formula, 160 IP per starter is probably more realistic with a six man rotation than a 5 man group.
JLa
The problem is, with 6 starters, you only get 7 relievers. With the difficulty getting outs in Coors, you typically need to throw more pitches per game.
Rockies seem like the team that should be using piggybackers/multi-inning relievers more than anyone
JUJH:
I agree with you, however, I believe a six man rotation, where every starter is given that extra day of rest allows your pitchers to throw deeper in games as well. If you set your eyes on 6 innings in every start, so long as they’re effective (e.g. 4 or fewer runs) then you can limit your bullpen resources to fewer than 3 innings pitched each start for your bullpen arms.
If you can get 156 innings minimum from your rotation members, you’ll receive 936 innings by your starters every night. That leaves you with 522 innings amongst 7 relievers over the standard 1,458 necessary innings to finish an MLB season.
Throwing deeper into games might not be ideal. It may be better to have a bunch of dudes that can get through a lineup twice followed by longer relief.
This is the 12 man rotation strategy. It’s a good one. It helps to have a position player or two who can mop up.
Good move by the Rockies. With a new Front Office I think there’s going to be a new pitching philosophy as well. Maybe some of these new arms that are starting pitchers will be splitting games so the relievers are not worn out by July? Just my guess, but they did say they were going to have to come up with a new game plan.
I am glad that the Braves didn’t try to sign him.
Sf
How do you know the Braves didn’t try to sign him?
I actually really like the signing, it’s nice to the Rockies trying to do something g
When your team is coming off a season that ranked worst in MLB history with a 6.65 ERA among starting pitching. It not only behooves you to bring in a new pitching coach, but to also bring in veteran arms (Lorenzen, Quintana, and Sugano) all of which are 34 years and older that can help with their vast baseball playing careers in many different leagues and environments to help curb the tide of that worst MLB starting pitcher ERA in history. Not to mention possibly being trade candidates at the deadline. When your team is at the absolute bottom and staring up in the same division as the previous World Series champion and de facto one to win it once again. It is these kind of moves that Depodesta has made that can yield results in the future that are moves made in the margins now.
Q was pretty effective for the Brewers last year — ERA under 4.00 and 131 innings once he was ready to pitch. (Brewers signed him in early March and only paid him $3 million.)
You know what youre getting. For 6m definitely not a bad bargain.
Great value signing. Was hoping my Giants were gonna sign this guy, and use him as a lefty reliever. Perhaps they will employ this strategy with Tyler Anderson, Patrick Corbin, or Max Scherzer. Mad Max as closer would be a trip.
Does anyone think a trade between Colorado and Houston, some kind of Cristian Walker for Moniak trade would be possible? Obviously with some other pieces on either side being traded as well. Idk if the Rockies would take on that kind of money now after spending on the pitching, but it seems like it would be a good trade for both sides
It is a big season for Mickey Moniak. Colorado needs him in the OF everyday despite his DRS and OAA. He needs to be fully immersed in the game and running him in the outfield will keep him loose and locked in.
He needs to a be a fixture at one position. Id say LF. Staying put as opposed to rotating around the OF will help him improve his defense.
Id say the same for Doyle in CF and Beck in RF. McCarthy as the utility OF can rotate around.
I like Freeman locked in at 3B. He needs to be in the field everyday too.
Willie Castro at the DH and as the utility IF.
Rockies have to focus on developing Moniak, Doyle, Beck and Freeman as two-way players.
They have a good team on the offesive side of the ball, defense isn’t the best but lock it down and let it meld and they will all improve.
Rockies of all teams need two way players just to fill the innings. Also switch pitchers.
I agree completely with you. Moniak played very well in right field, but he struggled playing center when Doyle was out and he didn’t fare well in left when Beck was sent to AAA to fix his bat. Left in Coors is more challenging than right, but they had Tyler Freeman miscast as an outfielder and put him in right when he was needed and kept moving Moniak around.
I watched every game last season and Moniak was not THAT bad in the outfield. He made a couple of absolutely horrible plays of dropping an easy fly ball (one was in Tampa I remember), which probably hurt him in the metrics, but for the most part he played decently. He made a few really good catches and seemed to cover ground pretty well.
Freeman is a 2B, not third. He doesn’t have the arm for third in my opinion. Castro/Karros at 3B, Tovar at short, and the spring winner of Freeman/Amador/Ritter at second. I don’t believe the first baseman is on the roster yet and I would be okay with getting Walker although I wouldn’t give up Moniak for him. I could see a package of maybe Zac Veen and Antonio Senzatela (as salary offset) for Walker and a lotto ticket pitcher working,
Eh, good for the Rox.
Look at this. $8 million for Lorezen, $5.1 million for Sugano, and now $6 million for Quintana. The Rockies are overpaying. Looks like Paul DePodesta has found something out and he’s making a plan.
If Paul has a plan for pitching that works in altitude, he’ll be the first Rox GM to have one. Hard to believe the Rox have been around for more than 30 years, and no one can figure out how to use their own home park to their advantage.
Rox will be lucky to win 60 games this year. Worst run franchise in the NL and only the Angels are worse in the majors.
Backup Catcher: DePodesta was handed a trainwreck team that won 43 games last year. 60 wins this year would be an enormous improvement.
You need to have starters, you need to field a team. He filled out the rotation with cheap back end guys who work hard. It’s a tough go in Colorado, but give them credit for trying.
Could they be traded? Sure? But who wants them and what would they fetch (not much), and who will the Rockies pitch afterwards? DePodesta has a lot of work to do there, but he has to have a daily team out there, too.
Quintana is a good trade deadline candidate providing he can keep his ERA below 6.00.
I’ll take the over if 6.00 is the line.
I’m showing Quintana made 24 starts for the Brewers last season
Attention Kmart shoppers
leftykoufax: which team are you a fan of? The Dodgers?
““We want big arsenals. We think big arsenals will be harder to game plan against. You know, if a guy has six, seven pitches, that’s harder to game plan for than if a guy has two or three, right? So we think that’s an advantage. The more weapons you have, the more random you can be.””
I don’t think people understand how much more important a large arsenal is now than it was even 5 seasons ago. Cheap Trajekt Arc technology (pitcher-mimicking pitching machines) have essentially made all but the best closers complete crap shoots in the bullpen, especially last year.
For starting from essentially the ground up this year, the Rockies rotation will probably be better than many expect for that specific reason, but of course, Coors will remain undefeated. Maybe they’ll even go grab Chris Bassitt, as he has 14 different pitches or some absurd number like that.
I like Rox rotations additions of Quintana and Sugano. Hopefully they work out.
Can you say poor guy about a healthy guy making $6 million?
Rockies seem like a total mess. Top to bottom. What’s the end game here? Baseball is different than NBA or NFL when it comes to building thru the draft. Best case scenario they are like 5 years away from contending. No?
Rockies now have a much better rotation than the Nationals. The new Nats leaders seem to not be aware that losing the most games in the majors doesn’t guarantee you the first pick. If it did, Paul Skenes would be a Nat.
If Quintana had the same ERA that he has but struck out a ton of guys he’d get $20m a year. You’d think getting guys out would be more important than peripherals
That’s kind of true. Jameson Taillon is pretty similar and makes $17m/yr.
He will be fine. He has made $85 million without using a GoFundMe page.
If any of these recently signed pitchers can muster under 4 era…they will be trade chips.
We were skeptical of Quintana in Pittsburgh, but he turned out to be a total pro who finds ways to get outs without premium stuff. Suspect he will do the same in Colorado, though mistakes are going to fly further there.
His metrics are bad and his numbers have been trending down for years, and now he’s moving to Coors. Prediction – He gets released or traded before the deadline.