With Spring Training rapidly approaching, Rockies fans have a lot on their minds, especially in the wake of the announcement that the club and Nolan Arenado are heading to what could be a record-setting arbitration hearing. We will look at Arenado's long-term outlook and more in the latest Inbox.

Players and teams exchanged figures Friday as part of the arbitration process, and it's expected that Arenado could end up with around $25 million for 2019. But that's a starting point to what the Rockies hope is a multi-year contract.
All along, I've said the contracts of Bryce Harper and, especially, Manny Machado will help color Arenado's market value.
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What I won't say is Arenado's signing is contingent on his love for Denver or whether the Rockies show him they want to contend. Building a pitching staff answered the latter question. It comes down to whether they can agree on a deal for one of the top players of this generation.

Right-handed pitcher Peter Lambert, the Rockies' No. 3 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, went 10-7 with a 3.28 ERA at Double-A and Triple-A last season. While there is pitching depth, if Lambert can fully master a mid-80s slider to go with a 92-94-mph fastball and a changeup (currently his best pitch), he is part of the starting rotation's depth picture.

Tom Murphy flashed a power bat on occasion, but he got into some bad swing habits and let some defensive flaws show up at key times in games. The chance is still there, as the Rockies haven't added a veteran catcher to the Major League roster. But he'll have to make clear steps forward without backsliding.

The most-touted piece in the 2015 trade that sent shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays, Jeff Hoffman hasn't gained Major League footing. In 2018, Hoffman had a shot to push his way into the starting rotation, but a right shoulder impingement that he suffered in Spring Training scuttled that chance. Hoffman couldn't find consistency in stints with Colorado, during which he was used as a starter and a reliever.
The Rockies didn't call him up at season's end, believing that he would not be used out of the bullpen, and needed a full offseason to regroup. It's an interesting time for Hoffman. He enters camp in his last year of Minor League options as a big part of the Rockies' depth picture, but if he turns heads or if injuries occur, he could find himself as a member of the rotation.