The Rockies’ lineup gave them far more than a last-place team usually gets, and that’s why the 104 losses don’t tell the full story. Colorado’s position players were not the issue. If anything, they were the one part of the roster that looked ready to move forward.
That becomes even more obvious when you zoom out and look at the offense as a whole. The Rockies were productive enough at the plate to make their record feel even stranger, especially with a starting rotation that posted a 7.00+ ERA after the trade deadline.
The bats did their part. The pitching staff didn’t.
And there’s reason to think the offense can climb again in 2027. Hunter Goodman is the centerpiece of that optimism, and as long as the front office doesn’t move him, Colorado should be in better shape with him anchoring the lineup. The club also expects Cole Carrigg to be around for a full season, and Charlie Condon is on the way.
Carrigg didn’t reach the majors until June, but even in just 93 games he flashed impact. He hit 12 home runs, drove in 53 runs and stole 11 bases, production that would have put him in the Rookie of the Year conversation if he had been in the lineup longer.
TJ Rumfield put together a first full season that was hard to ignore, too. He hit .300, launched 16 homers and drove in 73 runs, which ranked third on the team. The veterans around him delivered as well, and Goodman and Jake McCarthy were right in the middle of it.
Goodman and McCarthy combined for 171 RBI, with Goodman setting a franchise mark by hitting 41 home runs. McCarthy added another layer with speed, finishing seventh in the National League with 32 stolen bases.
Charlie Condon also made a strong case for a fast track. In Triple-A with the Albuquerque Topes, he hit .273 with a .514 slugging percentage and a .904 OPS. He scored 105 runs, collected 59 extra-base hits, hit 27 home runs and drove in 98 runs while adding 79 BBCan’t wait to see what he can do with the #Rockies next season 👀 pic.twitter.com/MRHqCye36s
That kind of production makes it difficult to see him starting anywhere but the Opening Day roster. Condon should be able to help either as a designated hitter or as outfield depth, and both spots are areas Colorado needs to address. Goodman only fills the DH role when he’s not behind the plate, so there’s room for another bat.
Mickey Moniak’s season was interrupted by injuries, but he still managed 23 home runs and 65 RBI. If he and Carrigg each get a full year, the Rockies’ offense should have even more punch.
The bigger task now is on the pitching side. Colorado doesn’t need a splashy ace; it needs multiple average arms.
A Tarik Skubal-type addition isn’t the point. An ERA around 4.00 would do the job.
If the Rockies can handle that part of the roster, the rest of the equation gets a lot more interesting. With the position players already carrying their weight, an 80-win season next year suddenly doesn’t sound out of reach.
In Other News...
Rockies Finally Have Trade Leverage To Address Their Biggest Problem
The Rockies are suddenly in a position they have not enjoyed often enough in recent years: they have enough outfield depth to create real roster flexibility. President of baseball operations Paul DePodesta said the club has seven or eight players capable of contributing at the major league level, a surplus that gives Colorado something it can actually work with as it looks to improve a roster that badly needs pitching help.
Colorados biggest issue remains obvious after finishing the 2026 season with the worst team ERA in the league, and that is where the front office will likely focus its attention. DePodesta also pointed to depth at second base, another area that could help the Rockies in trade talks, giving them multiple ways to build leverage as they try to turn excess position-player depth into arms that can stabilize the staff. [Read more 🡒]
Rockies Prospect Stu Flesland Is Forcing A Bigger Pitching Question
Stu Flesland III spent 2023 turning himself into a name the Rockies had to notice, moving from High-A Spokane to Double-A Hartford and then getting a look in the Arizona Fall League. The left-hander also worked through one rough outing at Triple-A Albuquerque, but he finished the year showing better command and real effectiveness in the playoffs, enough to keep him in the conversation as more than just another arm in the system.
Rockies pitching coordinator Dan Meyer has pointed to Fleslands deception and quality stuff as reasons the organization likes him, and that kind of profile tends to create a bigger question fast. If a pitcher can miss bats, handle adversity and offer value both as a starter and a reliever, the next step is less about whether he belongs and more about how Colorado chooses to use him. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Fans Have A New Reason To Watch Vance Honeycutt Closely
The Arizona Fall League handed out its annual awards this week, and Vance Honeycutt picked up Defensive Player of the Year honors after a strong showing in the desert. The recognition adds another layer to a prospect whose name has already been circulating among Orioles fans, alongside a list of league winners that included Welbyn Francisca as MVP and Tai Peete as Offensive Player of the Year.
For Baltimore, Honeycutts award is another reminder that his value is not just tied to what he does at the plate. Defense can be the separator for young players trying to carve out a role, and this kind of accolade gives his profile a little more shine heading into the next stage of his development. The Fall League is often where prospects make a final impression before the offseason settles in, and Honeycutt left one worth noting. [Read more 🡒]