The Rockies’ winter priorities are pretty clear: pitching first, and plenty of it.
Colorado needs help in both the rotation and the bullpen, and the warning sign from last offseason is right there in plain sight. The club went the one-year route with multiple pitchers who were 35 or older, hoping veteran presence would steady things and show the younger guys how to compete.
That approach may have made sense on paper. The results haven’t given the Rockies much reason to keep leaning that way.
This is still a franchise that hasn’t reached the postseason since 2018 and hasn’t played in a World Series since 2007. That’s a long stretch for any team, and it’s why the Rockies can’t keep missing on the same kinds of moves.
They have some of the most loyal fans around, even if Coors Field isn’t always packed. The people who do show up are the real troopers and real fans.
There’s also a practical side to this winter. If Colorado makes the right free-agent additions or pulls off the right trades, attendance could climb.
More importantly, a jump into the 75-80 win range would count as real progress. The Chicago White Sox offer a reminder that teams can go from 100-loss territory to the playoffs in short order.
One name that fits the Rockies’ needs is Michael King. He’s a free agent who could help solve problems on the mound, and he’s currently pitching for the San Diego Padres in the playoffs.
San Diego is one loss away from elimination. King is 31 now and will turn 32 next May.
King brings a fastball-sinker mix that can attack the zone and keep hitters uncomfortable. His season has had its ups and downs, but when he’s right mentally and physically, he can still deliver his best stuff. He remains a pitcher with plenty to prove.
Freddy Peralta is another option, though he could cost a lot. Sonny Gray is the fallback plan worth keeping in mind. He’s had a solid career, and while his last outing with the Boston Red Sox left people scratching their heads, his experience - especially in the postseason - makes him an intriguing fit.
Offensively, the Rockies don’t really need much beyond help at second base. The lineup already has plenty of talent, and what it needs most is room to grow. Zac Veen, Kyle Karros, Hunter Goodman, and rising names like Ethan Holliday and Charlie Condon could all inject life into that group.
What Colorado cannot do is overload the roster with more veterans over 35 heading into the 2027 season.
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Rockies Fans May Hate What This Hunter Goodman Trade Idea Suggests
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For Rockies fans, the idea lands with a familiar sting, since Goodman has become the kind of player a rebuilding club would rather build around than shop. Bleacher Reports proposal sends him to Texas in exchange for pitching and catching prospects, a reminder that Colorados lineup pieces can quickly become the subject of deal chatter once another team starts shopping for certainty at a premium position. [Read more 🡒]
Rockies Suddenly Have An Outfield Debate Fans Might Actually Enjoy
The Rockies did get a little better in 2026, and part of the reason was the emergence of a few younger pieces who gave the roster some life. Hunter Goodman, TJ Rumfield and especially Cole Carrigg helped push the team forward, with Carrigg making his major league debut in June and quickly looking like more than just a midseason curiosity. By the time the season wrapped, he had put himself in position to open next year as the likely starter in center field.
That leaves Colorado with something it has not always had in recent years: an outfield discussion that feels layered instead of desperate. Carrigg, Mickey Moniak and Jake McCarthy are expected to form the starting group, while Charlie Condon, Zac Veen and Troy Johnston give the club real depth behind them. For a team still trying to climb out of the National League Wests lower tier, the question is no longer whether it has enough bodies to fill the grass. It is how much upside this group can finally deliver. [Read more 🡒]