I believe changes are coming to 20th and Blake. Significant changes. In the front office and on the diamond because the Rockies’ historic losing season demands not just tweaks but revamping. I think owner Dick Monfort realizes that.
How soon will it happen? That depends. Some changes in the front office could come during the season, and perhaps soon. Some will wait until the offseason.
However, I believe the roster will look different after the July 31 trade deadline. The Rockies rarely wheel and deal, but that could change this summer. Although the team is playing better lately, the early losses were a wrecking ball, and more rebuilding is required.
Here is my take on the future state of the roster. Who stays? Who goes? Let the speculation begin.
The Untouchables: It’s a short list that includes shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, right-hander Chase Dollander and catcher Hunter Goodman.
Tovar, currently on the injured list, is the team’s best all-around player, and he’s only going to get better. He’s only 23. Plus, his contract is extremely team-friendly. In March 2024, he signed a seven-year, $63.5 million contract extension. The deal includes a team option for 2031 that could boost the agreement to $84 million over eight seasons.
Dollander, 23, is having a rough rookie season, with a 2-7 record, 6.19 ERA and 14 homers served up in 12 starts. But his high-velocity talent is real, and he’s learning from his mistakes. He has a chance to be something special.
Goodman, 25, is the catcher the Rockies have needed for, well, forever. He’ll be the Rockies’ lone All-Star representative on July 15 in Atlanta. Goodman entered the weekend slashing .285/.328/.518 with a team-high 14 homers. He’s hitting .348 with runners in scoring position. Pitchers praise his game-calling, and his defense, while not elite, is improving. A 30-homer season is in Goodman’s wheelhouse.
Prime trade candidates: Right-hander German Marquez, third baseman Ryan McMahon and lefty Austin Gomber.
As my colleague Sean Keeler spelled out in his recent column, trading Marquez and McMahon makes sense for both the players and the team.
A month ago, the Rockies would have had a hard time convincing teams to take a hard look at Marquez. Not anymore. Marquez, 30, has a 2.94 ERA over his last six starts since May 22. It’s his lowest ERA for a six-start period in a single season since his 2.89 mark from July 4 to Aug. 6, 2021, the year he pitched in the All-Star Game at Coors Field.
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McMahon, 30, is a streaky hitter but a rock-steady defender. He should win his first Gold Glove this season, and teams need defense and power. As Keeler noted, after a horrendous start to his season, McMahon entered the weekend hitting .278 with nine homers while posting an OPS of .907 since May 1. When surrounded by talented hitters and with the pressure off his shoulders, McMahon will rake.
Teams always need lefties, and Gomber would fill a role for another team, either in the rotation or the bullpen. Last week, Gomber, 31, made his first major league start this season after recovering from left shoulder soreness that flared up during spring training. He looked sharp, striking out four and holding Atlanta to two hits in five innings. He was not sharp Friday night vs. the Diamondbacks at Coors Field.
Gomber, making $6.35 million this season, will become a free agent this fall. The Rockies need to get something for him.
The wild cards: Right-handed middle reliever Jake Bird and center fielder Brenton Doyle.
I’ve seen a lot of speculation that Bird will be dealt, but I’m skeptical. Yes, he’s having a fantastic season, entering the weekend with a 2.16 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 32 appearances. He ranked first among big-league relievers in innings pitched and was tied for first in strikeouts.
If a team makes the Rockies a mega offer they can’t refuse, they have to consider trading “Birdman.” But he’s making only $770,000 this season. And although he’s arbitration-eligible this winter, he’s under team control through 2028. I can’t imagine the Rockies are going to find a more dependable workhorse reliever. They will tread with caution.
Doyle is the best-fielding center fielder in franchise history, though he’s not been as solid this season as he was in his first two when he won back-to-back Gold Gloves. He’s struggled at the plate, but he’s incredibly talented and athletic. He’s under team control through 2029 and doesn’t enter arbitration until this winter.
Right now, he’s a bargain, and I can see the Rockies offering him a long-term deal. Still, if another team makes Colorado a tantalizing offer, I think the club will listen.
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