The Colorado Rockies didn’t make headlines with blockbuster moves this week, but they did make a pair of savvy, under-the-radar additions that could pay dividends in 2026. The club agreed to minor league deals with infielder Nicky Lopez and reliever John Brebbia - two veterans who bring experience, versatility, and, perhaps most importantly, a chance to stabilize a young roster that struggled mightily in key areas last season.
Let’s start with Lopez, whose 2025 season was a whirlwind, to say the least. The 30-year-old has already signed seven contracts with five different teams this calendar year - a journey that’s taken him through stops with the Angels, Diamondbacks, Yankees, Rockies, and three separate stints with the Cubs. It’s been a chaotic ride, but Colorado might offer something he hasn’t had in a while: a real opportunity to carve out a role.
Lopez is never going to light up the box score with his bat, but that’s not what the Rockies are looking for here. What he does bring is defensive reliability - something Colorado desperately needs.
This is a team that finished dead last in runs allowed (1,021), second-to-last in errors (110), and second-to-last in fielding percentage (.981). Those are not just bad numbers - they’re the kind that lose you games, especially in a place like Coors Field where runs come easy for both sides.
Lopez, at his best, is a glove-first infielder who can play multiple positions and bring some much-needed steadiness to the dirt. Back in 2021, he posted a league-best .987 fielding percentage when he was getting everyday reps - a reminder of the kind of defensive upside he still offers.
While he’s unlikely to be an everyday starter at this stage, the Rockies may see him as a valuable mentor to a young infield core that includes Ezequiel Tovar, Tyler Freeman, and Kyle Karros. With a group that’s still learning the ropes, having a veteran like Lopez around could be more impactful than it looks on paper.
Then there’s John Brebbia, a 35-year-old right-hander who’s looking to bounce back from a rough 2025 season. And “rough” might be putting it lightly - Brebbia posted a 7.71 ERA over 22 appearances with the Tigers and Braves, a far cry from the dependable reliever he once was. But there’s reason to believe he’s got more left in the tank.
Before things went sideways, Brebbia was a key bullpen piece for the Cardinals, putting up a 3.14 ERA over 161 games in his first three seasons. Even after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2020, he returned to form with the Giants in 2022, logging a 3.14 ERA across a league-leading 76 appearances. He’s been a high-volume, late-inning option before - and that’s exactly the kind of presence the Rockies bullpen could use.
Colorado’s relief corps was among the worst in baseball last season, finishing second-to-last in ERA (5.18) and surrendering a league-high 99 home runs. That’s a brutal combination in any ballpark, but especially so in the thin air of Denver. If Brebbia can regain even a fraction of his old form, he could help patch a leaking bullpen - and if not, the Rockies haven’t risked much to find out.
These signings aren’t going to swing the NL West, and they don’t offer much of a glimpse into what Paul DePodesta’s long-term vision for the franchise might be. But what they do show is a front office looking to plug holes with smart, low-risk moves. Both players are veterans with something to prove - and that kind of hunger can be contagious in a clubhouse full of young talent.
In a season where the Rockies are trying to find their footing under a new regime, moves like these might not grab headlines, but they matter. It’s about creating competition, adding leadership, and giving the team a better shot to avoid the kind of defensive lapses and bullpen meltdowns that plagued them in 2025.
Lopez and Brebbia won’t fix everything, but they just might help set a better tone. And for a Rockies team in transition, that’s a step in the right direction.