DePodesta, Rockies ready to 'act early' after 4th straight 100-plus-loss season

CHICAGO -- The Rockies don’t have time to mourn the final weeks of the 2026 season, which ended with a 4-2 loss to the White Sox -- their 30th in the final 38 games.

The baseball industry is expecting a frenzied period of trades and free agency after the conclusion of the World Series. No time to smart after the 58-104 finish – the Rockies’ fourth straight season of triple-digit losses.

“We’ll be ready,” Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta said Sunday. “We obviously, unfortunately, have some time here in October to focus on it. But fortunately for us this year, we are a little bit earlier. Last year in November and December, we were hiring staff – both coaching and front office. This year we are all in place.

“After living through this for a year, we have a very good direction on what it is we feel we need. So we’ll certainly be ready to act early this offseason if need be.”

The Rockies went 43-119 in 2025, one of the worst finishes in modern history, and hired DePodesta on Nov. 6. Last offseason, they improved the offensive talent level but entered the year crossing their fingers that the starting pitching could improve and players low on the service time scale could be impactful.

The team was 39-58 at the All-Star break, but trending well enough that manager Warren Schaeffer set a goal of playing above .500 in the second half during a team meeting. The club approached that by going 11-15 out of the break, then the record cratered.

Sanguine eyes can focus on offensive improvement -- 752 runs, most since 2019, and at least top-seven finishes in batting average (.254, fourth), on-base percentage (.322, seventh), slugging percentage (.417, fifth) and OPS (.739, fifth) -- and the 17-25 record in one-run games and 12-24 mark in two-run games. This .372 win percentage in games decided by two runs or fewer was the fourth worst in MLB.

However, the despairing view of the weak starting pitching -- last in the Majors in strikeouts (555, which is 50 fewer than the second-place Padres), ERA (6.28, the only team to finish with a mark over 6.00), batting average against (.303) and WHIP (1.58) -- and the inability to claim games that were there for the taking were same-ol’, same-ol’.

DePodesta, general manager Josh Byrnes and a beefed-up front office -- that DePodesta said could expand in all areas -- must avoid riding either the up or the down crest.

“Unfortunately, the way we played the final six weeks has left a sour taste in our mouths, and the mouths of our fans and supporters as well, for good reason,” DePodesta said. “We’re disappointed with how we played, and that has overshadowed a lot of the progress we have made through the course of the year -- early in the season and I still believe it now.

“We’re encouraged but far from satisfied. Even if we had won a few more games down the stretch, it’s still far from where we want to be.”

So what are the encouraging signs?

Power-hitting catcher Hunter Goodman, leadoff hitter Jake McCarthy, third baseman Kyle Karros and a pair of rookies, left-handed-hitting first baseman TJ Rumfield and center fielder/shortstop Cole Carrigg, had strong offensive seasons, and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar finished strong after an extended poor stretch. Veteran outfielder Mickey Moniak, who signed a two-year, $16.25 million contract through 2028, was off to a strong start before being slowed by injuries.

“The most positive thing that has come from this year is, with a whole new group in place, we’ve identified a number of pieces -- a core of a playoff team here in Colorado,” DePodesta said. “We need to grow that core, and I think we have to some degree this year, but we need to continue.”

The impact, however, was dulled by the Rockies constantly falling behind because of starting pitching. Rookies Gabriel Hughes and Mason Adams and spot starter Tanner Gordon started many of the games down the stretch. Even if they improve, the Rockies lack depth and need experience behind them in that rotation.

No analysis of the roster would see the Rockies having depth or being able to attract pitchers at the top of the free-agent market. But DePodesta’s counter is the Rockies’ track record this year.

The offensive improvement came with under-the-radar moves -- trades for center fielder McCarthy, who emerged as a consistent force at the top of the lineup and batted .291, and first baseman Rumfield, who hit .300 while emerging as a National League Rookie of the Year candidate; a waiver claim for left-handed-hitting Troy Johnston, who hit .277; and the free-agent signings of switch-hitting Willi Castro and, during the season, closer Jordan Romano.

Adams, second baseman Connor Norby, lefty reliever Mark Manfredi and righty reliever Nick Frasso were Trade Deadline acquisitions who helped late in the year. Expect the Rockies to be creative in their search for starters this offseason.

“Free agency is the most obvious one that people think about during the early parts of the offseason, but there are trades, waiver claims and Minor League free agents,” DePodesta said. “We’ll be ready for all those things.”