Amid youth movement, how active will Rox be at Meetings?

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 Winter Meetings promise headlines with high-profile signings and trades -- well, for some teams.

For the Rockies, one of general manager Bill Schmidt’s favorite phrases is that there’s much good happening “under the bamboo.” But above the ground cover, the Rockies are coming off a 103-loss season that saw them turn their roster over to youth.

Not many headlines will sprout out of the bamboo this week. Unless there are shocking trades, the Rockies will again count on a developing young core (shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, left fielder Nolan Jones and Gold Glove-winning center fielder Brenton Doyle) meshing with a few experienced players they hope will be productive and healthy (Kris Bryant tops this list) to make forward steps.

But if an accumulation of power hitters and pitchers through the MLB Draft and trades prove fruitful in future seasons, the Rockies may make headlines on the field.

Key Events

Sunday, Dec. 3: HOF Contemporary Era ballot results released (Cito Gaston, Davey Johnson, Jim Leyland, Ed Montague, Hank Peters, Lou Piniella, Joe West and Bill White)

Tuesday, Dec. 5: Draft Lottery

Wednesday, Dec. 6: Rule 5 Draft

Note: Larry Walker is not only the only player to go into the Hall representing the Rockies, but he’s the only person who wore the Rockies uniform to be inducted. If Leyland is inducted, he will be the second. He managed the Rockies in 1999.

• Will Helton add Cooperstown to his address book? Mike Lupica weighs in.

Club Needs

Starting pitching, starting pitching and starting pitching. Germán Márquez and Antonio Senzatela will miss much of the season recovering from Tommy John surgery. The closer situation is unsettled, but it appears the Rockies will either hope for a bounce-back from injury and other struggles from Daniel Bard, trust Justin Lawrence to continue his development or see if a different strong-armed candidate emerges. In any case, it would behoove the Rockies to score with non-roster signings the way they did with Bard a few years back.

Potential Trade Candidates

The last edition of the Rockies Beat Newsletter was a tricky one. It identified second baseman Brendan Rodgers as a potential trade candidate, then laid out reasons why it’s better to keep him and try to deal from prospect depth. But Rodgers has been dangled for pitching before. Teams may come calling for lefty pitcher Austin Gomber, who would come with two years of club control, or catcher Elias Díaz, last year’s All-Star Game Most Valuable Player, but dealing both would leave the Rockies at a deficit. Is there a longshot? How about third baseman Ryan McMahon? He has four years and $60 million left on his deal, but the Rockies like his cost certainty.

Prospects to Know

Rarely do the Rockies deal off the top of the prospect deck, so expect players at the top of the MLB Pipeline list to have an impact in Colorado -- this year. Switch-hitting infielder Adael Amador (MLB Pipeline's No. 21 prospect), and outfielders Yanquiel Fernandez (No. 49), Jordan Beck (No. 83) and Zac Veen (No. 92) in particular will be watched very intently.

Veen is especially intriguing. He entered last year at No. 27, but he sustained a left wrist tendon injury and underwent surgery in June. He’s back on the field, playing for Ponce in the Puerto Rican Winter League, and could easily regain momentum.

Rule 5 Draft

The Rockies have a full 40-man Major League roster and would have to clear space to participate, but they may do so if there is a power arm available. They did not protect third baseman Aaron Schunk, a 2019 second-round pick who batted .290 with 14 homers and an .811 OPS at Triple-A Albuquerque.

Burning Question

It won’t be answered this week, and it won’t fully be answered in 2024. But can the Rockies flourish as an extreme draft-and-develop organization, rather than one that quickens its pace by dealing prospects for ready-made Major Leaguers, and show signs of ending the current run of five losing seasons?