Colorado Rockies: Will they stand pat with starting pitching?

For Colorado Rockies fans, there are plenty of thoughts, opinions and articles coming out right now, saying Colorado’s biggest need is everything from center field to starting pitching.

The simple truth is that there are plenty of places where the Colorado Rockies could improve heading into the 2020 season. Pitching, catching and outfield are certainly three of the biggest. However, big contracts will likely keep the Rockies from making much of a splash in the offseason.

We have heard that ever since an early October media gathering at Coors Field when Rockies owner Dick Monfort said this memorable phrase. It was reinforced again on Friday during a call with Colorado general manager Jeff Bridich.

Take a look at the quote below from Friday and see what you make of it.

You can certainly read the quote as Colorado will try to be creative in the offseason (a theme we have heard ever since the early October gathering as well). However, we know that the creativity will be limited if Colorado isn’t planning to spend much in the offseason (“We’ve pretty much spent what we have through 2020,” Monfort has said).

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On the flip side, you can read the quote that the Rockies aren’t going to be bringing in a starting pitcher to supplement a starting rotation that posted a Major League-worst 5.87 in 2019. Are the Rockies simply going to be happy with pitchers like Peter Lambert with his first taste of MLB under his belt and Chi Chi Gonzalez who posted a 1.65 ERA in his five September games (four starts)?

Perhaps the key in Bridich’s quote are the words “bigger name.” But will the Rockies take a chance on a cheaper reclamation project to bolster the starting five rather than pitchers they’re already familiar with (and pitchers who have already pitched at altitude)?

There are a lot of “ifs” floating around in this scenario. If the Rockies can deal off a contract like Daniel Murphy‘s to make some budget room or IF the Rockies can trade some prospects for pitching or IF the Rockies are simply happy to be where they are in 2020 with their starting options.

We know something will be different with the rotation in 2020 with Tyler Anderson and Chad Bettis no longer options. However, the Rockies tried 11 different pitchers as starters in 2019 so there are still plentiful options from last season. Plentiful? Yes. Good? That’s up for debate.

While there may be a lot of uncertainty with the scenario, one thing is certain. Unless Colorado’s budget situation changes somehow, there likely won’t be much high-quality outside help riding in to rescue a team that went 71-91 in 2019.