rewrite this title Three offseason focal points for the Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies managed to avoid having the worst record in major league history.

That was about the only positive for the Rockies. They had the worst run differential (-424) in the modern era (since 1900) and the sixth worst in MLB history. The Rockies lost over 100 games for the third consecutive year, and their 119 losses are tied for the fourth most in MLB history.

While the immediate future is bleak, there is some hope on the horizon. Chase Dollander may have struggled in his first stint in the majors, but was one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. Fellow top prospect Charlie Condon has moved to first and could be on the fast track to the majors, as could 2025 draft pick Ethan Holliday. Players such as catcher Hunter Goodman, shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and outfielder Brenton Doyle could be solid pieces on a contending roster. However, there is a lot of work to be done. Let’s take a look at three focal points for the Rockies this offseason.

Three areas for Colorado Rockies to focus on during 2025-26 offseason

1. Enough with the blind loyalty

The Rockies, for better or worse, are loyal to their players and staff. They rarely hire from outside the organization; current general manager Bill Schmidt has been with the Rockies since 1999. He had spent 20 years in charge of the scouting department, which, considering the Rockies were considered to have the 24th-best farm system in baseball after the trade deadline, is hardly a ringing endorsement. 

Schmidt and the entire front office would be on thin ice for any other organization. If the Rockies want to contend in the near future, that loyalty needs to take a back seat.

2. Embrace the rebuild

The Rockies may play in the most difficult division in baseball. The Dodgers and Padres are perennial playoff contenders. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks represented the National League in the 2023 World Series and the Giants, since winning 107 games in 2021, have hovered around .500. For the Rockies, just getting to .500 would be a stark improvement.

It will be years until the Rockies are ready to compete. Condon and Holliday could be a solid 1-2 punch in the middle of a future lineup in Colorado. Outfielder Cole Carrigg has flashed five-tool potential. Infielder Adael Amador struggled during his time at the major league level, but has a minor league track record of making strong contact and has a nearly 1:1 strikeout to walk rate (265:268) during his time in the minors. The question, as always, is whether or not the Rockies will ever find the pitching they need. With that in mind…

3. Look for bounce-back veterans with an eye on the 2026 trade deadline

The Rockies finally understood the purpose of the MLB trade deadline in 2025, sending third baseman Ryan McMahon and reliever Jake Bird to the Yankees in separate deals. Fellow reliever Ryan Kinley was sent to the Braves. Two of the prospects received — pitcher Griffin Herring and second baseman Roc Riggio — became top 10 prospects for the Rockies.

While that is a good start, the Rockies need to add more talent to the farm system. One potential avenue would be to take a chance on low-cost veterans looking to bounce back from a rough 2025 season. The likes of reliever Jordan Romano, utility man Willi Castro and outfielder Lane Thomas have had success in their careers. If those players could resurrect their careers, they could help bring in the talent the Rockies need as they look to contend in the future.