What’s on the Colorado Rockies post-MLB lockout to-do list?

Yesterday, we took a look at what the Colorado Rockies did before the MLB lockout was put in place at 12:01 AM E.T. on December 2. The Rockies are one of only three teams who has not made an MLB signing of a player from outside of their organization or trade for one (the Cincinnati Reds and Oakland A’s are the other two teams).

For the Rockies to at least improve for next season (let alone be in playoff contention), they will have to make some moves after the lockout ends.

Here is the Rockies list of things on their to-do list once the MLB lockout ends.

The Colorado Rockies need to find a shortstop

The Colorado Rockies have to find out who is going to play shortstop. If it’s an internal option like Brendan Rodgers or Ryan McMahon, that’s fine but the Rockies then have to find somebody to fill in the hole at second or third base.

Right now, McMahon is at the top of the depth chart at third base and Rodgers is at the top at second base. But Garrett Hampson is at the top at shortstop. He is a natural shortstop but the Rockies cannot afford to lose Trevor Story’s bat and drop down to Hampson’s.

If Hampson proves in 2022 that he has an MLB quality bat, that’s great but he hasn’t shown it yet. He has had an OPS+ of 69 since 2019 as he has hit .238/.293/.382.

As the roster is currently constructed, Hampson should be a utilityman and pinch-runner. That’s it. Not an everyday player.

The Rockies could re-sign Story, sign another shortstop/infielder, or trade for one but just standing pat at shortstop is not going to cut it.