ORLANDO, Fla. -- New Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta cited starting pitching and experience for the daily lineup as immediate roster concerns heading into 2026.
“We’re anxious to build out the Major League coaching staff and the rest of our front office, but at the same time, the Winter Meetings are happening,” DePodesta said on Monday, the first day of the event. “Players are going to be signing deals, or teams are going to be making trades. We want to be right in the middle of that. So we’re trying to do both of those things at once.”
The 6.65 rotation ERA was the worst for a starting staff since ERA became an official stat in 1913. Veteran lefty Kyle Freeland and righty Ryan Feltner, who couldn’t capitalize on a strong 2024 finish because of injuries in ‘25, represent the bulk of experience for the rotation, with righty Antonio Senzatela moving to the bullpen and longtime rotation member Germán Márquez exploring free agency.
Last season saw a brigade of rookies -- 2023 first-round pick Chase Dollander, Tanner Gordon, Bradley Blalock and McCade Brown -- receive opportunities.
Additionally, Rockies No. 12 prospect Sean Sullivan, a left-hander, and No. 14 prospect Gabriel Hughes, a righty, could reasonably begin next season at Triple-A Albuquerque and contribute to the big club. Both had solid 2025 seasons after injuries. Sullivan performed well at Double-A Hartford after hip surgery at the end of the the 2024 season, and Hughes completed a lengthy comeback from 2023 Tommy John right elbow surgery to pitch at Hartford and Triple-A Albuquerque.
Whoever pitches for the club is expected to have new leadership. According to Major League sources, the Rockies plan to announce Alon Leichman -- former Reds and Marlins assistant pitching coach -- as their new pitching coach.
“First and foremost, probably like everybody, we’re looking for starting pitching,” DePodesta said. “That’s an area of focus. It’s an area where we need to improve, certainly off last year’s club. We’ve got some depth, because we have some younger guys that are making their way through the system.
“I also believe, hopefully with some of this pitching leadership we hope to bring on board, that we’ll get even more out of some of those guys. But certainly being able to acquire a couple starting pitchers is on our to-do list -- not necessarily in the next 48 hours maybe, but certainly offer the course of this offseason.”
Among position players, the Rockies’ biggest strength is the middle of the diamond, with catcher Hunter Goodman coming off a strong two-way season, and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and center fielder Brenton Doyle possessing Gold Gloves in their histories although last season saw poor offensive numbers and injuries.
But do the Rockies risk some of that by dealing Doyle for pitching? Early Winter Meetings matchmaking suspects that the pitching-rich Royals and the Rockies are a match. DePodesta, aware that teams asked for Doyle at last year’s Trade Deadline, said teams bring up Doyle’s name.
“He’s one of the elite defensive center fielders in the game -- in our ballpark, that plays, and it’s important,” DePodesta said. “He’s also shown real power, hit a bunch of homers, lots of extra-base hits. He’s big, strong, athletic, fast, there’s a lot to like about him. There’s an excellent foundation. Hopefully, he can continue to progress and get better.
“He’s a really good player, and I’m not surprised that there was a lot of interest in him at the Deadline, or that people will continue to have interest.”
Doyle and outfielder Mickey Moniak turn 28 next season, while outfielder/second baseman Tyler Freeman turns 27, Goodman is 26 and Tovar is 24, while most of the players in line for regular duty are younger. DePodesta allowed that the lineup needs players in their prime, whether through a trade or free agency.
The Rockies have to plan to be with or without Kris Bryant, whose back issues have been a constant since he signed a seven-year contract before the 2022 season. Bryant and the club are in contact, but his health is unpredictable.
While starting pitching is a deficit, manager Warren Schaeffer noted that a mostly young bullpen is “one of our biggest strengths.”
Closer Seth Halvorsen was given a scare with a late-season right elbow injury, but he reached near full velocity in instructional ball and is having a normal offseason. Righty Victor Vodnik pitched well in closing opportunities, and righties Juan Mejia, Jaden Hill and Jimmy Herget put together solid seasons. For veteran flavor, Herget, 32, is joined by lefty Brennan Bernardino, who turns 34 on Jan. 15, and who had a 3.14 ERA in 55 games last season with the Red Sox.