Tuesday, November 04

DENVER -- Plenty of the questions await the person the Rockies will trust to address them.

Before the Rockies attack the many questions facing them this offseason, they’ll have to come to their biggest answer: Who will be running the baseball side of the operation?

The search, led by executive vice president Walker Monfort and his father, owner Dick Monfort, has reached the in-person interview stage. Guardians executive vice president/assistant general manager Matt Forman visited Coors Field late last week, and Diamondbacks senior vice president/assistant general manager Amiel Sawdaye arrived at the start of this week. It’s not clear when a hire will be made.

The new baseball operations leader will be faced with another decision: Whether to make interim manager Warren Schaeffer the manager, or hire another -- with the possibility of Schaeffer remaining on staff.

Whatever happens, the Rockies need to address big-picture issues and nuts-and-bolts questions.

How do the Rockies improve their starting pitching?

It’s hard to be worse than the Rockies rotation, which finished with the highest starter ERA (6.65) since the stat became official in 1913. Veteran lefty Kyle Freeland ended the season pitching effectively, and rookie righty Tanner Gordon led the rotation in wins (six). Otherwise, the rotation was inexperienced and ineffective, although former top Draft pick Chase Dollander, Bradley Blalock and McCade Brown gained experience.

The expected return of righty Ryan Feltner should be a boost, lefty Sean Sullivan (Rockies No. 12) and righty Gabriel Hughes (No. 14) are the next-closest prospects, and lefty Griffin Herring (No. 9) could make quick progress after excelling last season in the Rockies and Yankees systems.

But Germán Márquez is headed for free agency, and the Rockies announced at the end of the season that Antonio Senzatela will be a reliever in 2026.

All this is to say the Rockies sorely need experience for the rotation. 

The new baseball operations leader will arrive with the knowledge that attracting free-agent pitchers in their prime is difficult no matter who’s doing the negotiating. Expect the Rockies to try to creatively seek trades.

How can the Rockies add to an inexperienced batting order?

By season’s end, rookies manned the right side of the infield. Ryan Ritter took over at second base after Thairo Estrada was limited to 39 games by right wrist and right hamstring injuries. The Rockies thought Michael Toglia was the answer after his 25 home runs in 2024, but he batted .190 with 132 strikeouts in 88 Major League games. Warming Bernabel and Blaine Crim came up from Triple-A Albuquerque to replace Toglia.

First and second are the spots to add a veteran via trade or free agency, even if the contract isn’t a lengthy one. The team fully expects Charlie Condon, Colorado's top 2024 Draft pick and an Arizona Fall League sensation, to be ready eventually.

That said, let’s look at some roster situations. It’s difficult to project what the Rockies will do, since the decisionmaker has yet to be hired.

Who are the potential free agents?

Márquez has reached the end of his contract, and is not expected to receive a qualifying offer. There are mutual options for Estrada ($1 million or a $750,000 buyout) and utility man Kyle Farmer ($4 million or a $750,000 buyout). 

What are the immediate roster decisions?

Eligible players become free agents the day after the World Series. Once the World Series ends, decisions must be made about adding players on the 60-day injured list back to the 40-man Major League roster. 

The Rockies, whose 40-man roster is full, have four players on the 60-day IL: Estrada, who could end up a free agent, pitchers Jeff Criswell (expected back from right elbow surgery early next season) and Dugan Darnell (who underwent left hip surgery late in the season) and designated hitter Kris Bryant (rehabbing chronic back problems).

With Márquez set for free agency and Estrada and Farmer potentially testing the waters, there isn't an immediate roster crunch.

Who is eligible for arbitration?

With the exception of lefty reliever Lucas Gilbreath, who has battled injury, those eligible for arbitration are core players -- Feltner, outfield regulars Brenton Doyle, Mickey Moniak and Tyler Freeman, and righty high-leverage reliever Jimmy Herget. Teams must decide whether to tender contract offers to arbitration-eligible players by Nov. 21.

Who must be placed on the 40-man Major League roster?

These will be large decisions for new management. Players who are eligible for the roster are Hughes, outfielder Sterlin Thompson (No. 15), righty Yujanyer Herrera (No. 17, coming off missing 2025 after Tommy John surgery), lefty reliever and 2025 Futures Game participant Welinton Herrera (No. 19), righty starter Jordy Vargas (coming off Tommy John surgery), outfielder and 2021 first-round pick Benny Montgomery and lefty reliever Sam Weatherly. The date to add players to the 40-man roster -- and protect them from possibly being selected in the Rule 5 Draft -- is Nov. 18.

Welinton Herrera, 21, posted a 0.49 ERA in 15 games at High-A Spokane before pitching 37 games with a 3.50 ERA at Double-A Hartford. To further Herrera’s development, the Rockies sent him to the Arizona Fall League -- where he has a 1.50 ERA in six innings over five outings with the Salt River Rafters.

Herrera has nine strikeouts but also seven walks. Rockies pitching strategies coordinator Flint Wallace said even the misses are helpful to Herrera’s education.

“He’s trying to get his slider more consistent, and he’s on board with throwing it more,” Wallace said. “His strikeout numbers could be even better, but he’s going to work on things that will make him better in the future. The slider is starting to come on and be a little more consistent in its action and break.”

The Rockies have been waiting to take a close look at righty No. 29 prospect Ben Shields, 26, who came from the Yankees in return for reliever Jake Bird. Shields, however, was hit on the back of his right shoulder by a line drive in his fifth appearance at Hartford and missed the remainder of the regular season.

The Rockies placed him in the Arizona Fall League, and gave him extra time to regain his pitch action. He’ll throw two innings on Wednesday against Mesa.

“The recovery was taking longer, and we just didn’t want to rush it and cause any issues,” Wallace said. “There’s nothing structurally wrong. We just never got all the inflammation out until now.”

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