This Rockie upheld his end. What's next? 

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.

The Rockies’ signing in Spring Training of veteran shortstop José Iglesias to a one-year, $5 million contract -- after Trevor Story signed with the Red Sox -- was an indication that the Rockies wanted to give themselves a chance to compete. The team is well out of postseason position, but Iglesias upheld his end.

On the field, he carries a .316 batting average -- .358 on the road -- into Wednesday night’s game against the Cardinals. Off the field, he has thrown himself into lending his experience to a team trying to build a winning culture. On the second part, he sees a team that has a way to go but is making strides.

“I do believe in this group,” said Iglesias, 32. “I’m not going to lie. If I don’t believe, I’d say I don’t. We have an extremely talented group of young players. We need to bring consistency. As a team, we can do things differently. Hopefully we will in the future. This can be a championship group, but we have to make some adjustments.

“It’s not an overnight thing. It’s a process. It’s a mindset. It’s communication. It’s respect. It’s loyalty. It’s making adjustments. It’s a bunch of things. But in general, we do have the talent. But we need to learn how to put it together, compete and deal with struggle with a little better attitude.”

Some issues are clear. Back and foot injuries have limited key free-agent signee Kris Bryant to 42 games (he’s currently on the injured list), and righty reliever Tyler Kinley’s absence because of season-ending elbow surgery has affected the bullpen in the second half. Depth has been tested.

Iglesias, however, believes the Rockies can bridge some of the gap by handling failure better. The Rockies have long been known as a team of “grinders,” whose response to struggle is to simply turn up intensity. But the attitude can backfire by making players tight. Also, players can become so devoted to changing their own fortunes that they push for solutions and inadvertently shut teammates out of the process.

“Teams I’ve been on, with Hall of Fame players, the difference is in the way they handle struggles,” he said. “Miguel Cabrera, Torii Hunter, ‘Big Papi’ [David Ortiz], Victor Martinez, Dustin Pedroia, when they are going through a tough moment they never give up on the process. And they never show it publicly. I guess it’s experience. But we’ve got to get better.

“When we are going through a tough moment, we’ve got to be a little more positive about it. Not just the players, but everybody. It could be a culture thing. I think that’s changing. You have to share. You have to communicate. You have to support. You have to be open to learn, be open to make changes. You have to be open to understand that winning is beyond yourself.”

There is question how long Iglesias will be around to assist in the process.

With contending teams in strong shape in the middle infield, Iglesias was not dealt at the Trade Deadline. And time will soon come for Rockies No. 2 prospect Ezequiel Tovar, whose beeline to the Majors was slowed by a right groin injury that has kept him out of action since June 29.

Iglesias also mentored Tovar in Spring Training this year and said veterans helped him along the way. Iglesias said he is open to rejoining the Rockies next year, but both sides would have to make that decision.

“I've been around and know what it takes,” he said. “I love to challenge myself to make stuff better, love the challenge to make an organization better, and I’m ready for it.”