National League West Preview: Colorado Rockies

The 2025 Colorado Rockies came two losses short of joining the 2024 Chicago White Sox as the worst team in modern MLB history. That might be the nicest thing you can say about last year's team. Among the eye-gouging stats that include a 7-33 start: A minus-424 run differential, an MLB record. They were outscored by 2.6 runs per game—that includes the 43 games they won. The previous modern-day mark was minus-349 by the 1932 Boston Red Sox. The 2024 White Sox had a minus-306 run differential. But things are looking up, at least modestly in 2026, even though the Rockies will probably finish last in the NL West for the fifth year in a row.

Rockies' Notable Offseason Moves

The biggest move the Rockies made since the end of a disastrous 2025 was revamping the front office. After three straight 100-loss seasons and finishing fourth or fifth in the NL West in the last seven seasons, the Rox ditched general manager Bill Schmidt and brought in Paul DePodesta, who had spent the previous decade with the NFL's Cleveland Browns. It certainly brought some criticism, as the Browns have not exactly been a model franchise over that time, making the playoffs twice since 2002.

DePodesta, who has plenty of MLB experience through his time with the "Moneyball" Oakland A's, has probably changed the perception of his hiring with what he has done this offseason. The front office has been brought into the modern ages and he hired Josh Byrnes, who had overseen the Los Angeles Dodgers' scouting and player development for the previous 11 years, as general manager.

No star players were brought in, but there was a collection of moves that will at least help the Rockies put a competitive team on the field. The pitching staff now includes right-handers Michael Lorenzen and Tomoyuki Sugano and left-hander Jose Quintana, while outfielder Jake McCarthy (trade), utility man Willi Castro, infielder Edouard Julien and catcher Brett Sullivan were also brought in.

Projected Rockies Lineup

1. Jake McCarthy, LF
2. Ezequiel Tovar, SS
3. Hunter Goodman, C
4. Mickey Moniak, DH
5. Jordan Beck, RF
6. Willi Castro, 3B
7. Brenton Doyle, CF
8. Troy Johnston, 1B
9. Edouard Julien, 2B

Goodman was stuck behind Jacob Stallings and Elias Diaz in 2024, but then stepped into the spotlight in 2025 with a .278/.323/.520 slash line with 31 homers and 91 RBIs, becoming an offensive centerpiece. Moniak finally realized some of the promise that made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft, but it came after being released by his hometown Los Angeles Angels; he slashed .270/.306/.518 with 24 homers and 68 RBIs last year. Doyle had a rough season due to off-the-field issues, so he is looking to bounce back to the 23-homer performance of 2023, when he was put up 4.0 bWAR. Johnston will be someone to watch. He was waived by the Miami Marlins after a debut season in which he slashed .277/.331/.420 with four homers in 44 games. More consistent playing time in Coors Field could increase his value.

Projected Rockies Rotation

1. LH Kyle Freeland
2. RH Michael Lorenzen
3. LH Jose Quintana
4. RH Tomoyuki Sugano
5. RH Ryan Feltner

As with the lineup, nothing truly stands out here. Freeland deserves a medal for sticking around with the Rockies for his 10th season. It could be his last, as there is a player option that vests at 170 innings for 2027. The front office convincing Lorenzen, Quintana and Sugano to pitch in Coors Field for a full season has to be considered a win. At worst, they should help eat some innings and keep the bullpen from working as much as it did in 2025, when it put up a 5.19 ERA. Feltner was the surprising winner over right-hander Chase Dollander for the last spot. Dollander, a highly touted prospect who made 21 starts in his debut season, had a 5.53 FIP, with an 11.1% walk rate contributing heavily to that. He will begin the season in the bullpen.

The Verdict

Warren Schaeffer managed the Rockies on an interim basis following Bud Black's surprising firing after going 7-33 (surprising in that Rockies ownership noticed the team wasn't doing well on the field). Shaeffer's Rockies went 36-86 and he was given the full-time job for this season. If Schaeffer can avoid a fourth straight 100-loss season, that would be considered a huge success in the first year of a new administration. Being better against the division would also help. The Rockies were 12-40 vs. the NL West in 2025.