What will the 2019 Colorado Rockies possibly look like?

The bullpen also looks to be about as stable as a bullpen can be. Every player that’s thrown a pitch for the Rockies is slated to return, with one notable exception (though it is a big one – more on that later). Despite his recent troubles, Wade Davis is likely to return as the team closer, with Seunghwan Oh, Bryan Shaw, Jake McGee, Chris Rusin, Scott Oberg, Mike Dunn, Harrison Musgrave, Brooks Pounders, and Yency Almonte all under team control through at least 2020.

The Rox will be returning their full catching corps, with Chris Iannetta and Tony Wolters both slated to return, with Tom Murphy also aboard for depth. As a unit, these three have complied a dismal -1.2 combined WAR, with Iannetta “leading” the group with a -1.0 WAR. An upgrade here would certainly help the 2019 Rockies, though knowing this front office, any such improvements seem unlikely.

The outfield is relatively stable, anchored by Charlie Blackmon and his $108M contract in center. David Dahl will be back, as will Gerardo Parra, who is signed through the 2019 season. They also young-ish bench pieces Raimel Tapia, Noel Cuevas, and Mike Tauchman, all of whom drank at least a cup or two of coffee in Denver this season.

The infield presents more difficulties, though at least they retain the rights to burgeoning superstar Trevor Story through 2021. For better or worse, Ian Desmond will certainly be back at first, if for no other reason than his salary makes him next to impossible to move. It is at second and third where the Rox have their two biggest questions – questions that may have franchise shaping implications, both in 2019 and 2020.