SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies infielder Ryan McMahon’s most intense workout these days is not to build the arms and chest -- which nonetheless are toned. When he reported to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Friday, he said his thumbs are working overtime.

The new Collective Bargaining Agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association was approved by both parties Thursday, which opened an offseason of signings and trades that had been dormant during the 99-day lockout. Since the agreement went into effect, McMahon’s thumbs have been flying around the keyboard of his smartphone for information on whom the Rockies will add in their attempt to rebound after three straight fourth-place finishes in the National League West.

• What’s next for Colorado? Here are 5 questions for 2022

“This whole thing is going to be pretty exciting,” said McMahon, who hit 23 home runs, posted a .779 OPS and played a third base that sparkled aesthetically and on the stat sheet. “A lot of us were expecting stuff to just start happening last night. I was on Twitter, trying to stay up-to-date on it all. Nothing came out.

“It should be an interesting next couple of days.”

Position players McMahon, first baseman C.J. Cron and infielder Garrett Hampson, starting pitchers Kyle Freeland, Austin Gomber, Ryan Feltner and Peter Lambert, and relievers Jhoulys Chacín, Lucas Gilbreath, Justin Lawrence and Ben Bowden went through a light workout in the Arizona sunshine. And, making like the reporter lurking around the grounds, they sidled up to general manager Bill Schmidt in hopes he would give them the latest on which players he would add.

Schmidt joked about the stalking operation in search of information, smiled, then prudently didn’t give much info to the actual reporter.

“We’re looking to try to get better,” he said. “We’ll see what happens. I don’t know how it’s going to play out. We’re going to make attempts.”

Before the lockout prohibited all communication between teams and Major League players and their agents, the Rockies were quietly signaling that they would make a loud splash, particularly to answer the loud screaming the lineup is doing for an impact bat. Cron led the team with 28 homers, and the only teammates to exceed 20 were Trevor Story (24) and McMahon. Rockies players have won 11 batting titles in the franchise's 29 MLB seasons, so Brendan Rodgers’ .284 was startlingly low for a team high.

• Catch up with the Rockies as 2022 season nears

As the day progressed, the belief was the Rockies’ interest in Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Michael Conforto and Nick Castellanos -- with the hopes of landing one -- was real. Where the Rockies fall in the shortstop market also is of intrigue, and the loss of starting pitcher Jon Gray (to the Rangers as a free agent) might or might not have the Rockies shopping to fill his spot.

Of course, by the time you read this, the market could move quickly.

Schmidt said Rockies personnel, who moved about the complex in packs while meeting and forming strategy, were prepared as possible not knowing what the ground rules would be under the new CBA. Schmidt said that it turned out that the new Competitive Balance Tax thresholds and rules to increase pay for players of low service time will have no effect on what the Rockies can swing on the open market.

Freeland, who for a large swath of last season pitched the way he did in 2018, when he finished fourth in Cy Young Award voting, has liked the information he has gathered in discussions with Schmidt and manager Bud Black.

There have been some conversations -- I won’t speculate too much on it,” Freeland said. “There have been conversations had, at the end of last year and before the lockout, about what we want to do moving forward with some pieces. Hopefully, we can execute that. That falls on the shoulders of the front office, owner, GM, Buddy, people like that. But hopefully we’ll get some quality free agents.”

The Rockies hope to propel the roster forward with additions, but don’t expect a total remake. Players in the fold will need to be better, more consistent or both. For example, the four returning rotation members -- Freeland, Gomber, Antonio Senzatela and All-Star German Márquez -- all had effective stretches last season. But Márquez was the only starter not to be placed on the injured list. Like pitchers throughout the game, all showed fatigue during last year’s full season after playing through a disjointed 2020.

For example, Gomber, who came from the Cardinals in last year’s deal that sent away third baseman Nolan Arenado, posted a 105 ERA+ (five points above MLB average). His finish was marred by a stress fracture in his lower back, which led the the club to shut him down in early September. Gomber reported feeling 100 percent by October.

“We had a hard time getting all five of our guys out there at the same time, and having us pitching well at the same time,” Gomber said. “That’s part of it. I'm sure every team would like to say that, but we do have the ability to do that.”

In this anything-can-happen frenzy, there is a thought among the Rockies that another try to re-sign Story, who said his goodbyes at the end of last season, is worthwhile. Rockies teammates are taking breaks from surfing the internet to drop him an occasional text -- to support him in his decision whatever it is but also stump for a reunion.

Schmidt has never said the Rockies have given up on Story, although defensive free-agent shortstop José Iglesias appears to better fit the payroll should the team sign one of the aforementioned corner bats. The Rockies had been linked to Andrelton Simmons, but he has reached a one-year deal with the Cubs, a source told MLB.com.