FAQ: What to know about Rockies' offseason

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DENVER -- The Rockies head into the offseason counting on a large number of young players needing to improve in 2025 and quietly believing in their growing pitching depth.

But after two consecutive seasons of triple-digit losses, the question becomes what Colorado will do between now and the start of Spring Training in Scottsdale, Ariz. Here is a look at the roster issues the club faces over the coming months.

There’s only one potential free agent to retain.
Catcher Jacob Stallings will likely turn down his part of the mutual option for 2025, but that merely allows him and the team time to negotiate a new deal.

Returning makes sense, both for Stallings -- who turns 35 on Dec. 22 -- and the Rockies. Stallings posted career full-season bests in batting average (.263), home runs (nine) and OPS (.810) while playing in 82 games, proving he can be effective if not used too often. Whether his catching partner is Hunter Goodman, who showed solid offensive improvement late in 2024, Drew Romo, who made his MLB debut on Aug. 17, or another catcher on the horizon, Colorado’s other backstop will be inexperienced and need playing time -- but not too much.

What are the arbitration situations?
The Rockies are expected to tender 2025 offers to all of the eligible players, although they are expected to entertain trade offers for right-hander Cal Quantrill and could remake the lineup in the right deal involving second baseman Brendan Rodgers. However, when asked directly this week, general manager Bill Schmidt said Rodgers is part of the ’25 plan.

The other arbitration-eligible players who must be tendered offers by the 6 p.m. MT deadline on Nov. 22 are lefty starter Austin Gomber, righty starter Ryan Feltner, outfielder Sam Hilliard, righty reliever Justin Lawrence and lefty reliever Lucas Gilbreath.

What is the payroll?
The Rockies finished 2024 with a payroll of $127.4 million, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. As for ’25, Schmidt noted that the club still hasn’t learned the final amount of local television revenue from the first year of a subscription-based service.

“We’ll see where we’re at when we see what the TV situation is,” Schmidt said. “Is there a chance we’re going to lower? Yes. But Dick [Monfort, the Rockies’ owner] is going to put the money into the club.”

Beyond the uncertainty over television money, the payroll figure could drop for two reasons. The club is no longer responsible for the $13 million salary for outfielder Charlie Blackmon, who retired at the end of the season. Also, if the Rockies move Quantrill, and possibly Rodgers, what they save on an arbitration-increased salary for either or both could be used on multiple players with needed skills at a lower cost.

Which prospects need to be protected on the 40-man Major League roster?
As the roster stands, there will be one spot open after the World Series concludes. Righty Germán Márquez will come off the 60-day injured list. So will righty reliever Daniel Bard, but he is set to become a free agent.

By the Nov. 19 roster deadline, Colorado will have to add outfielder Zac Veen (the Rockies’ No. 3 prospect, No. 83 in baseball) their top Draft pick in 2020, and right-handed pitcher Connor Van Scoyoc, who received high marks from the Minor League staff for his progress at Double-A Hartford and is in line for a Major League debut in ’25. Also expect the club to add outfielder Juan Guerrero, who is off to a slow Arizona Fall League start but hit a combined .304 with 23 doubles, six homers and 27 stolen bases at High-A Spokane and Hartford this past season.

Another key figure could be outfielder Braiden Ward, who slashed .269/.373/.410 at Spokane and Hartford and has on-base skills that could fill a glaring need with the big club.

What are the needs?
It’s easy to get caught in the weeds of payroll and processes, but the goal of any offseason is to improve the club.

• Better offense: Schmidt said this starts with the growth of young players. Key examples are center fielder Brenton Doyle, who cut his strikeout rate and hit 23 home runs this season, and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who led the team with 26 homers and the National League with 45 doubles despite striking out 200 times.

“We have a young team, and for the most part ran out a young lineup, so it’s called experience,” Schmidt said. “We have to be more consistent offensively.”

But the biggest offseason question is whether Schmidt and the Rockies find experienced hitters to increase the frequency of balls in play and possibly influence those already in purple pinstripes.

“We’ll see what happens,” Schmidt said. “We’ve got to figure out how to score more runs.”

• Bullpen experience: Schmidt said he is looking for experience to augment a young bullpen that showed promise at the end of 2024.

• A better bench: Colorado will depend on young players for the lineup -- which also includes outfielders Nolan Jones, who’s hoping to bounce back from a rough 2024, and Jordan Beck, who’s looking to realize his potential after playing through hand and wrist injuries in his debut season.

But two finds late in Spring Training -- Jake Cave (who’s set to become a free agent) and Hilliard -- had their moments as experienced reserves. Expect the Rockies to seek seasoned bench players.

Does the need for bullpen experience put the club in the market for a closer?
Not necessarily.

The Rockies believe 2024 rookies Victor Vodnik and Angel Chivilli, and Seth Halvorsen and Jaden Hill (each with rookie status intact in 2025) all can pitch late in games. There’s also veteran righty Tyler Kinley, who should be past the kinks that showed up in ’24 as he completed a comeback from right flexor tendon surgery.

About the starting pitching …
Because free agents routinely cross the Rockies off their list due to the effects of altitude on their careers, Colorado has spent much of its history starved for depth.

So the fact that the Rockies will entertain trade offers for Quantrill, a seasoned starter, speaks volumes.

Lefty Kyle Freeland had a strong stretch after missing the early part of the season with a left elbow issue, and righties Germán Márquez and Antonio Senzatela should be fully recovered from 2023 Tommy John surgeries. Gomber and Feltner join them in the projected rotation.

Recent high Draft picks Chase Dollander (the Rockies’ No. 2 prospect and No. 20 overall), Sean Sullivan (Rockies’ No. 10), Carson Palmquist (Rockies’ No. 14), Gabriel Hughes (Rockies’ No. 22), Jordy Vargas (Rockies’ No. 25) and Van Scoyoc will get chances in Spring Training. Bradley Blalock (Rockies’ No. 23), Tanner Gordon and 2024 Rule 5 Draft pick Anthony Molina saw time in ’24 and will get a look in spring as well.