Quantrill, Rodgers, Rox core shift focus to 2025

ANAHEIM -- With a two-run, first-inning double and a diving defensive play in the bottom of the inning at Angel Stadium, second baseman Brendan Rodgers reminded all that he still plies his trade for the Rockies after Tuesday's Trade Deadline.

“I was sitting, watching on TV until that 3 o’clock hit,” Rodgers said. “I made sure I didn’t get any calls. It was a relief, and then I started my day. It’s good to see, and I’m happy to be here. Keep playing hard and try to win some games.”

Elias Díaz announced his continued presence by singling and scoring in the second. There was no threat of Ryan McMahon being shipped off. Nonetheless, he celebrated with a three-run homer, and he’ll keep playing with Ezequiel Tovar, whose homer in the seventh was his 18th of the year.

The Rockies still like having righty pitcher Cal Quantrill around, even though he couldn’t find a rhythm with any pitch. The starter lasted 3 2/3 innings and yielded seven runs on nine hits in the 10-7 loss to the Angels.

“Obviously, what I did today didn’t work,” Quantrill said when asked how he handled the Deadline. “We should’ve won that game, but I didn’t pitch well enough.”

The Rockies fell to 38-70. Yet their modus operandi is not to tear down their roster, which sends a message. They believe there is a route to contending in 2025, even if evidence of going on six straight sub-.500 seasons contradicts.

Two members of the bullpen -- struggling all season and just as leaky on Tuesday -- went in the Rockies’ only trades: lefty Jalen Beeks to the Pirates and righty Nick Mears to the Brewers.

The returns were in line with a building club. The trades brought the Rox righty prospects Bradley Blalock and Yujanyer Herrera from the Brewers and lefty relief prospect Luis Peralta from the Pirates. But who didn’t move said more than who did.

Much pre-Deadline speculation centered on Díaz; however, he went to the injured list with a left calf strain in June. Then, after the All-Star break, he was slowed by a right calf strain. Díaz is a free agent at season’s end.

“It was tough, but today is over,” Díaz said. “I’m going to play hard every day. I’ll relax and let it go.”

Quantrill, Rodgers, lefty starter Austin Gomber and possibly catcher Jacob Stallings were Plan B for many teams. The Rockies control the contracts of Quantrill (whose name was bandied most), Rodgers and Gomber. Stallings possesses a mutual option. The Rockies weren’t going to lower their trade requests. If it were a fire sale, it would be at full price.

But with refusal to jettison everyone comes quick-turnaround responsibility. It starts with the crew on hand playing better.

“We can catch some momentum going into next year, for sure,” McMahon said.

Starting pitchers Germán Márquez and Antonio Senzatela should be healthy after returning from Tommy John operations last year and finishing this season. Then there are lefty Kyle Freeland, righty Ryan Feltner, Quantrill and Gomber.

Prospects who could appear this year are Blalock and lefty Carson Palmquist (working after being slowed by a recent back injury). Recovering Tommy John patients Gabriel Hughes (2022 top pick) and Jordy Vargas (prized international signee) and two key 2023 draftees -- righty Chase Dollander and lefty Sean Sullivan -- could debut in the Majors in ‘25.

The last time the Rockies had this much pitching depth, 2017 and 2018, they went to the postseason. Why not utter the P-word now, especially with ‘25 being Márquez’s contract year and the rest of the veterans closer to the end of their deals?

“You can see the picture forming about what we are looking to accomplish next year and the reality of players on the team with the years left on their deals,” said Freeland, signed through 2026 with a vesting option for ‘27. “We’re one of those teams that are going to have extremely high expectations with the caliber of players we have.”

Just welcoming the core back won’t do, though. General manager Bill Schmidt and owner Dick Monfort must make the right offseason moves, with fixing the bullpen being the top task. More young players performing like Tovar and center fielder Brenton Doyle have all year, and first baseman Michael Toglia recently will help.

The Royals’ going from 106 losses last year to contender status this year in a smaller market puts an onus on the Rockies.

Under construction in ‘24, the Rockies must embrace a 2025 deadline.