Colorado Rockies: 3 quotes that will define the offseason

“Being in Colorado we will always see if we can upgrade pitching in one way or another.”

More words from Colorado’s general manager Jeff Bridich. Let’s face it, the Rockies are set in the front part of the rotation with Jon Gray, Kyle Freeland and German Marquez. However, after that, it’s an unknown. The Rockies tried plenty of options last season but none seemed to dazzle (outside of Chi Chi Gonzalez in September when he posted a 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA in five games (four starts) with 11 walks and 26 strikeouts in 27.1 innings).

Colorado Rockies

Much like bringing in a veteran at catcher, if the Rockies are looking to add a veteran free agent pitcher, it will likely be an inexpensive one. There are plenty out there who could fit that bill, but will they actually be successful in the four and five spots for a team that is coming off a 5.87 ERA from its starters, the second-worst mark in MLB?

Bridich has already said “I wouldn’t put a ton of money on that,” when it comes to the Rockies chasing a high-priced veteran in the rotation.

Same likely goes with a bullpen that seems to be set with Scott Oberg, Carlos Estevez and Jairo Diaz showing their mettle in 2019 and setting up what could be a solid back end of the bullpen in 2020. “Upgrades in pitching” could always mean these three settling into the late-inning roles that were so up-and-down last season with the struggles of Wade Davis as well as the other “super bullpen” arms of Bryan Shaw and Wade Davis.

New arms are coming to the Rockies, either through younger players like Ben Bowden (who could be added to the 40-man roster before the Rule 5 deadline this week) or an established pitcher from another organization. However they arrive in Denver, it will be within Colorado’s budget. That’s one thing beyond clear from the words of Bridich and Monfort.