Colorado Rockies news and links for Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Yesterday marked the beginning of the 2024 MLB Winter Meetings in Dallas, Texas. Like all other teams, the Colorado Rockies were there, answering questions and making the rounds. General manager Bill Schmidt and manager Bud Black, too, spoke to media, and although there wasn’t much news to report, here’s what we found out.
The Rockies are banking on a Kris Bryant revival
If there was a theme throughout Monday, it was the Rockies’ belief that Bryant would return in 2025 as the player they thought they’d signed in 2021.
“We need Bryant to be Kris Bryant,” Black said. “And he’s still, in our opinion, very capable of that.”
The Rockies are looking for Bryant to be his former self when it comes to hitting, and they do not see him limited to being the team’s designated hitter.
Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images
Schmidt added, “We’re hoping he can play the outfield a couple days a week, maybe potentially [first base], if [Michael] Toglia needs a day off. Toglia played 90-some games when we brought him back up in June. The rest of the way, he never took a day off. But maybe a back-up DH — maybe three days a week — with the idea of giving the other guys the opportunity to get off their feet.”
Also made clear was the success of Bryant’s offseason training program as the organization attempts to ensure his health heading into 2025.
“From all my reports I’ve gotten, Kris never quit working out since the season’s been over,” Schmidt said. “So he’s hitting. He’s in shape. We’re hoping he comes into spring training, and he’s ready to go.”
My uninformed assessment: Given Bryant’s persistent health issues since arriving in Colorado, using him as a multi-positional player seems like assuming unnecessary risk on the part of the Rockies.
The starting rotation appears to be set
Although both Schmidt and Black emphasized that spring training would see across-the-board competition for positions, the starting rotation is probably clear: Ryan Felnter, Kyle Freeland, Austin Gomber, Germán Márquez, and Antonio Senzatela.
It’s also worth noting that Black praised Feltner’s performance in the second-half of the season.
Schmidt was clear that Chase Dollander (no. 1 PuRP) was close to being MLB-ready and that he would have every opportunity to make the team coming out of spring training.
My uninformed assessment: Black pointed out that Dollander, Gabriel Hughes (no. 13 PuRP), Carson Palmquist (no. 10 PuRP), and Sean Sullivan (no. 7 PuRP) are nearing their MLB debuts. However, it seems unlikely they will break camp with the Rockies. Still, look to see them at Coors Field in 2025.
The competition for closer is on
Black said that fans should look for competition to determine the Rockies bullpen with the question of who will be the Rockies closer unanswered.
“The bullpen competition is going to be fierce,” he said.
He cited Tyler Kinley, Victor Vodnik, Seth Halvorsen, Jaden Hill, Luis Peralta, Angel Chivilli, Justin Lawrence, and even Zac Agnos (no. 35 PuRP) as potential closers for the 2025 team.
Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images
My uninformed assessment: I still look for the Rockies to bring on a seasoned closer to provide shape to the bullpen, much as the Arizona Diamondbacks did when signing Paul Seawald in 2023. Kinley is the most senior of this group, but he’s shown himself to be unreliable in the closer role, especially after his injury, and Black does not have a reputation for trusting young players.
The outfield remains uncertain
Black also used “fierce” when describing the competition for a spot in the outfield.
Clearly, Doyle’s position is set, and the Rockies have said they intend for Bryant to see playing time in right field. They also hope Nolan Jones will return to his 2023 form.
By all appearances, Sam Hilliard is the fourth outfielder, then, with Jordan Beck (no. 6 PuRP), Yanquiel Fernandez (no. 5 PuRP), Zac Veen (no. 4 PuRP), and Benny Montgomery (no. 16 PuRP) in the competition as well (though Black added that Montgomery would probably start the season in the minor leagues).
My uninformed assessment: There’s nothing new here. I increasingly think Beck will begin in Albuquerque along with Fernandez and Veen. The Rockies intention to play Bryant in the outfield limits opportunities for prospects. However, that will probably change after the season gets under way.
The Rockies have many options at catcher
The consensus is that Jacob Stallings will act as the Rockies primary catcher, especially given his 2024 season. He did “a really good job,” as Black put it.
After that, things become less clear, especially with news of the Rockies signing Austin Nola to an MiLB contract.
Of the move, Black said, “Nola adds a veteran piece.”
He also mentioned Drew Romo (no. 9 PuRP), Hunter Goodman, and Braxton Fulford (no. 51 PuRP).
“Those three young guys have some things they have to clean up,” Black said, “but, nevertheless, they’re closer, and this winter, they each have their own set of goals and things we put in front of them to work on.”
Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images
My uninformed assessment: I don’t see the signing of Nola as a big deal. When spring training arrives, it’s almost impossible to have too many catchers. Plus, Bud Black is going to have a veteran catcher in Albuquerque working with the pitching staff. That’s just how he is, and I expect Nola to begin the season with the Isotopes and be brought to Denver should Stallings get injured. I would also project Goodman to start the season as the backup catcher with Romo beginning 2025 in ABQ.
Building the bench
Schmidt emphasized that the Rockies are focused on building up their bench this offseason with an eye to giving everyday players “a day off their feet.”
Presumably, that’s where the Rockies see Kyle Farmer fitting in (though I am unaware of any questions asking the Rockies about their plans for second base). Schmidt said that neither Adael Amador (no. 3 PuRP) nor Ryan Ritter (no. 19 PuRP) is quite ready to make the jump to MLB play.
My uninformed assessment: As Evan Lang wrote yesterday, the Rockies plans for second base remain opaque though, presumably, they hope to repeat the play-José-Iglesias-until-Ezequiel-Tovar-is-ready strategy, but this time with Adael Amador.
Leadership
Although questions about veteran leadership persist in the wake of Charlie Blackmon’s retirement, Schmidt believes they’ve covered that area, pointing to Kyle Freeland and Ryan McMahon.
“You’re hoping those guys are going to take that leadership role in our clubhouse,” he said.
My uninformed assessment: This sounds fine, but Kris Bryant should probably be added to the leadership mix, too.
Closing thoughts
The Rockies did not make any news on Monday, which seems like a good thing given where the team is in its don’t-call-it-a-rebuild rebuild.
The thing to watch for today is the MLB Draft Lottery later this afternoon in which the Rockies will attempt to get their first-ever #1 draft pick.
Clint Hurdle, don’t let us down!
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This week on the internet
‘Tis the season for various “wrapped” features: What were your most-played Spotify songs? Your most-watched YouTube videos? You know the drill.
This year, however, FanGraphs got into the mix with their on “walk-off” wrap.
If you’re a paying member, you can track your site usage here.
I came in at the Silver-level user, “among the top 25% of FanGraphs users.” My most-searched-for players? A tie between Ryan McMahon and Brenton Doyle. (Doyle I knew I wrote about a lot, but I was surprised by McMahon.)
FanGraphs
And — prepare to be impressed — I am in the 95th percentile of leaderboard users. Yes, I am a “Leaderboard Legend.”
I am not always good about logging into my account when using FanGraphs, but you can bet that’s a resolution for me in 2025.
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One intriguing Rule 5 candidate for each team | MLB.com
The folks at MLB.com wonder if Yujanyer Herrera will still be with the Rockies on Thursday following the Rule 5 Draft.
Actually, it’s the second part of this article that’s interesting for our purposes: the focus on television money for teams that say their a decline in this part of their revenue during the 2023-2024 seasons. Here’s the relevant material:
In other revenue-sharing news, MLB and the union earlier this year agreed that some money collected from luxury-tax charges can be given to clubs who have taken reductions in their local TV rights fees. The league office expected to notify recipient teams on Monday.
An individual team can’t receive more than $15 million, and must have had a reduction between 2022-24. Teams that are about to take a cut in 2025 for the first time, such as the St. Louis Cardinals, are not included. The total amount of money distributed is expected to be no more than about $75 million.
The Rockies are among the teams that have taken rights-fee cuts.
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