
Everything is bleak, at least given the market and current Rockies’ roster. The past gives fans a path to see where the team will turn.
They’ve received bad news. Daniel Murphy was brought on as a former World Series hero. Ian Desmond was brought off a change-of-position breakout elsewhere. Even relievers poured in as fans watched and hoped the club’s “settling” moves would result in a jackpot.
Not a single one did, but the settling isn’t stopping.
The Rockies have constantly settled for both average hitting and pitching, though they can build a strong case every elite hitter should finish their career splitting centerfield trees that cascade behind the wall. This offseason, it will be more of the same.
Even Tommy La Stella feels like a lofty proposition given the Rockies’ past.
My wager would be on a mix of market and in-house options. I think Josh Fuentes gets the bulk of the at-bats next year after a small breakout in 2020’s shortened slate.
Alongside Fuentes, I believe the Rockies bring in an extremely affordable option along the lines of another Yonder Alonso. Whether the signee is a guy like Justin Smoak or Matt Adams, it will be a very small, very low-cost option.
Fans will be left scratching their heads again. Or, maybe not – they’ve been through the same process for years.
Prediction: Josh Fuentes and a cheap veteran