This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding's Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Love or loathe the Rockies' long-held strategy of filling most of their holes from within (mostly by choice) and being dependent on homegrown starting pitching (mostly because top free agents are hesitant), righty Antonio Senzatela's season-ending knee injury that's likely to cost him at least a month next season and poor fortune in recent Drafts could lead to a change this winter.

The lack of depth in the organization had the Rockies realizing that bringing in at least one starter needed to be a priority. This was before Senzatela was hurt. The need is heightened because the Rockies haven't repeated what they found in 2017, when an almost entirely homegrown rotation led the team to the first of two straight postseason berths.

The Rockies built that rotation with high Draft picks Tyler Anderson (first round, 2011), Jon Gray (first round, 2013), Kyle Freeland (first round, 2014), Senzatela (international signee) and Germán Márquez (acquired from the Rays before he appeared in the Majors). The Rockies years ago parted with Anderson, now with the Dodgers, and Gray left for the Rangers this past winter. Senzatela is the first of this crew to have a major injury.

Attrition happens. But the idea of drafting and developing is to have replacements at the ready. That's not happening. So what's next?

The offseason signing of former Pirates righty Chad Kuhl was their first of a free-agent starter from another club with significant Major League experience since Kyle Kendrick in 2015. With the system receiving high marks for prospects lower in the system, trades are always a possibility -- although the Rockies may also have to use some prospect capital to add to the regular lineup, and still have bench and bullpen issues.

Starting pitching is a hole the Rockies must fill to be at all competitive in 2023.

"Any team will tell you -- any general manager, front office -- that they're always looking to improve the pitching, no matter what team," manager Bud Black said. "That's pretty standard. We're going to fall in line with the other 29 teams.

"You know what we want? Good pitchers."

Other than Ryan Feltner (fourth round, 2018), Draft and international signings aren't present in the Major League rotation. Righty Peter Lambert (second round, 2015) has made just two starts since making 19 as a rookie in 2019, and is still recovering from a 2020 right elbow surgery. Lefty Ryan Rolison (first round, 2018) reached Triple-A last year but didn't pitch at all this year because of a shoulder injury. Lefty Helcris Olivarez (international) looked in line to earn a debut sometime this year, but shoulder problems arose in Spring Training and he will undergo surgery next week to repair the shoulder capsule and could face a lengthy comeback. Righty Mike Nikorak (first round, 2015) retired without making the Majors because of elbow issues.

The Draft pick closest to contributing is righty Karl Kauffmann, who advanced from Double-A Hartford to Triple-A Albuquerque recently. Kauffmann must improve control, with 25 walks and 27 strikeouts in his first 32 1/3 Triple-A innings.

"We're always going to have to develop pitching, and a lot of things happen along the way to get here," general manager Bill Schmidt said. "Guys are going to get hurt. Guys aren't going to progress the way you thought they were going to. So we're constantly trying to look to get pitching any way we can."

Black said the hope is for Lambert and Rolison to find health and become part of the picture next season, but both must earn spots and may need Minor League time.

That said, next year's depth picture based on those in tow is iffy. The hope is lefty Austin Gomber regains momentum after inconsistency that has had him bouncing between the rotation and the bullpen. Righties Kuhl and José Ureña, who have high heights and divots this year, are free agents. Righty Dinelson Lamet, a waiver claim who saw success as a starter with the Padres before health dictated a bullpen move, could get another look as a starter but the success would likely depend on developing an off-speed pitch.