The Colorado Rockies have plenty to sell about the future right now. Young talent is already in Denver, more help is coming, and the farm system has taken a notable jump.
MLB Pipeline’s latest rankings put Colorado at No. 16, up from No. 27 before the season and matching its highest placement since midseason 2024, when it sat at No. 12.
That promise, though, sits alongside a brutal present. Unless things change dramatically down the stretch, the 2026 season is headed toward a familiar finish: last place.
Even worse, the Rockies are in danger of losing 100 games for the fourth straight year. That would be the worst run in franchise history and one of the most futile stretches in Major League Baseball history.
Manager Warren Schaeffer says he is prepared to ride it out with GM Paul DePodesta, and he says the two are aligned on where this is going. Schaeffer said the pair are "...putting legitimate processes into play that push this thing forward and that can create a sustainable winning culture - because that's the goal, to bring winning baseball back to Denver.”
For now, the Rockies need to think in smaller steps. Schaeffer has already shown he can handle the job and help develop young players, but the organization has to keep its eyes on the immediate future and make progress one step at a time.
The clearest first step is simple: get out of the cellar. Finishing anywhere but last has to be the main target next season, because five straight years near the bottom stops being a rebuild and starts looking like a holding pattern. Fans want to see something that feels like real baseball again, and this next wave of talent has to give them that.
Charlie Condon also looms as a major part of that push. Even though he has not played in the majors yet, the article argues it is time to free him and give him every chance in a Rockies uniform. The message is blunt: stop waiting, put him in the lineup, and let his bat do the work.
There is still a bigger goal beyond simply avoiding the basement. A .500 finish would be a serious challenge, but it is not out of the question if Colorado can improve its pitching this offseason and get the expected production from its young core. If that happens, the Rockies could be talking about 2027 very differently - not just as a decent season, but as a real step back toward contention.
In Other News...
Kyle Freelands Sudden Exit Brings New Concern For Rockies Rotation
Kyle Freelands latest start against the Dodgers was supposed to be another sign that the Rockies had found some stability in their rotation. Instead, it turned into an uneasy scene when the veteran left the game after discomfort surfaced in the fourth inning, interrupting what had been a solid stretch for him. Freeland had been pitching well recently, which made the timing of the exit especially jarring for a club that has spent much of the year looking for reliable innings.
Mark Manfredi, making his Major League debut, took over in relief, but the bigger issue for Colorado is what Freelands status means from here. He is in the final season of his contract, and his future is tied to an innings-based vesting option, so any missed time carries extra weight for both the player and the team. For a Rockies rotation that can ill afford another setback, even a short-term absence would be a concern. [Read more 🡒]
Willi Castro Is Giving The Rockies A Roster Luxury They Need
Willi Castro has become the kind of roster piece the Rockies can use in more ways than one, a productive utility player whose value goes beyond any single box score line. His offense has given Colorado a needed boost, and the flexibility that comes with having a veteran who can move around the diamond has mattered just as much for a club trying to keep its lineup and bench balanced.
Even with some defensive shortcomings and underlying metrics that do not scream long-term breakout, Castros contract value and all-around usefulness create a luxury the Rockies have not always had. It gives the team room to mix in younger players without losing a steady presence, and in a season where every bit of lineup stability matters, that sort of versatility can quietly shape how the roster is managed from here. [Read more 🡒]
Rockies Infield Prospect Is Giving Fans Another Reason To Pay Attention
Roc Riggio is starting to give Rockies fans a reason to keep an eye on Albuquerque. The infielder, who came over from the Yankees after being drafted in 2023, is in his first season at Triple-A and has already shown enough offense to stand out with the Isotopes.
The latest sign came when Riggio connected for his first home run at the level in a game against Las Vegas, another step forward for a player who has kept building momentum since joining the organization. For a Rockies system always looking for infield help that can produce, every encouraging night from Riggio adds a little more intrigue to what he might become next. [Read more 🡒]