But is there hope for a team coming off a 103-loss season? The 2023 World Series says yes.

In 2021, the Texas Rangers lost 102 games and the Arizona Diamondbacks lost 110. Yet there they were, just two years later, playing in the Fall Classic, with the Rangers prevailing in five games.

The two organizations followed different yellow brick roads to reach their destinations. The Rangers spent big in free agency and traded boldly. The D-backs developed their young players and made shrewd trades.

“(The Diamondbacks) have good young players,” Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt said last week during the winter meetings. “I said a year ago at this time that they were running ahead of us and were in the process of getting better.”

Although the D-backs and Rangers built their teams differently, the clubs had a couple of things in common, beginning with a passion to win.

“That’s a credit to (general manager) Chris Young and the ownership, Ray Davis,” first-year Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. “They were determined to get winning baseball back to the Texas Rangers. And when we met that’s what we talked about, that’s what they talked about to me. And they did everything they said they were going to do.”

Secondly, both teams got hot at just the right time.

Texas fumbled away the American League West title but claimed a wild-card spot and then rallied to go 13-4 in the postseason en route to its first championship. The D-Backs won just 84 games and barely snared the final wild card, but they made it to the World Series for the first time since 2001. Arizona had a minus-15 run differential during the regular season but became the first NL team to be outscored during the regular season and still win the pennant.

“It’s about getting in and getting hot,” Schmidt said. “The key is just getting in and then anything can happen. They proved that.”

The Rockies’ path to redemption will have to follow the D-backs’ plan because Texas is out of the Rockies’ league when it comes to spending.

The Rangers’ total $251 million payroll, inflated by their free-agent spending and mid-season trades, was the fourth-highest in the majors. Texas’ investment of more than $800 million during the last two offseasons mostly paid dividends. Shortstop Corey Seager and second basemen Marcus Semien, signed for a combined $500 million on the same day (Dec. 1, 2021), finished second and third, respectively, in the American League MVP vote this past season. Former Rockies right-hander Jon Gray, as well as right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, were signed for a combined $90 million and helped revamp the starting rotation.

Arizona was much more frugal. Its $119.3 million payroll was the 10th-smallest in the majors, and the D-backs relied more heavily on homegrown talent. The D-backs had 12 homegrown players on their postseason roster, trailing only Houston’s 13 among the 12 playoff clubs, while Texas ranked next-to-last with five. The Rangers’ nine free-agent signings tied the Phillies for the most, while the D-backs were second-to-last with five.

Unlike the Baltimore Orioles, who lost 115 games in 2018, 108 in ’19 and 110 in ’21, the Diamondbacks never resorted to a complete teardown and rebuild.

“Our approach to want to compete every year got torpedoed because our lack of farm system depth caught us in 2021 and into 2022,” general manager Mike Hazen told the Arizona Republic. “The goal was to contend the whole time. Everybody was like, ‘Oh, the Diamondbacks are going to rebuild.’ We didn’t rebuild in 2021. We stunk. That’s the facts.”

But Arizona didn’t reach the World Series on homegrown talent alone. Smart trades were essential to its rise. In 2016, a month after Hazen was hired, he made one of his best moves, shipping Jean Segura, Mitch Haniger and Zac Curtis to the Mariners for second baseman Ketel Marte and right-hander Taijuan Walker. Though Walker didn’t pan out for the D-backs, Marte has been their best player over the last seven years and won NL Championship Series MVP honors this year.

Hazen then traded hot shortstop prospect Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the Marlins for right-hander Zac Gallen at the trade deadline in 2019. Gallen was not a top-100 prospect at the time but he’s become the D-backs’ best pitcher and finished third in the NL Cy Young Award voting this season.

The trade that stands out for Rockies manager Bud Black was the December 2022 deal in which the D-Backs acquired catcher Gabriel Moreno and outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. from Toronto for outfielder Daulton Varsho. Not only has Gurriel helped offset the loss of Varsho, but Moreno has given them a skilled defensive catcher with a lot of offensive potential.

“That was a very good trade,” Black said.

Before this year’s trade deadline, the D-backs acquired closer Paul Sewald from Seattle for infielder Josh Rojas, outfielder Dominic Canzone and infielder Ryan Bliss.

“It was dicey for them for a while, but they got the closer they needed,” Black said.

The D-backs’ speed also caught the attention of Black and Schmidt. Arizona ranked second in the majors with 166 stolen bases and led the majors with 44 triples. Dynamic leadoff man Corbin Carroll, the NL rookie of the year who projects to be a star for years to come, ranked third in the majors with 54 stolen bases in 59 attempts. Four other D-backs players stole at least 10 bases.

In the NLCS Arizona beat the Phillies using its speed and pressing the action. After stealing just one base in the first five games, the Diamondbacks stole eight in the final two.

“They built that club on speed, they didn’t necessarily build that club on power,” Schmidt said. “Most of their guys were smaller guys who are athletes who can run. That’s how they built the club.”

The Rockies, by contrast, were not a speedy team, ranking 28th in the majors with only 76 steals.

Plans are in the works to change that. Gold Glove center fielder Brenton Doyle swiped 22 bases and left fielder Nolan Jones stole 20. Both are athletic young players whom the Rockies believe have power potential. Gifted shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, a Gold Glove finalist, swiped 11 bases and Black believes Tovar can steal even more.

When the Rockies traded away first baseman C.J. Cron, corner infielder Mike Moustakas and outfielder Randal Grichuk near the deadline, they not only acquired much-needed pitching in return, but also freed up playing time for their young players.

“During the second half of our season, after the trade deadline, I think our team got more athletic,” Schmidt said. “I think we just have some better athletes now. I think you will see that (going forward).”

But, of course, the Rockies must do more than just add speed if they want to become a contender two years after the first 100-loss season in franchise history. They have to improve a pitching staff that ranked as the worst in baseball in 2023 and pump up an offense that was one of the worst in franchise history.

That’s a tough row to hoe.

Building the 2023 Diamondbacks

The D-Backs lost 110 games in 2021 but squeaked out a wild-card spot with 84 wins and made it to the World Series. Here’s how general manager Mike Hazen constructed his team:

Building the 2023 Rangers

The Rangers lost 102 games in 2021 but finished the 2023 season 90-72, earned a wild-card berth and powered their way to the first World Series win in franchise history. Here’s how general manager Chris Young (and before him, Jon Daniels) built the Rangers’ roster:

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Molina, 21, was selected by the Rockies Wednesday from Tampa Bay in the major league phase of the Rule 5 Draft and will be added to the active 26-man roster.

Sterling Monfort, Colorado’s director of professional scouting, said longtime scout Jack Gillis believes Molina has a huge upside.

“Jack kind of (compared) this guy to German Marquez when Marquez was the same age,” Monfort said. “Molina is actually two levels higher than when we traded for Marquez. The numbers are about the same as Marquez’s.

“German wasn’t a huge strikeout guy until he got to us and developed his off-speed pitches and stuff like that. I’m not saying they are going to be the same guy, but we are hoping we got a guy like German Marquez.”

Monfort said that Molina will likely be pegged in a long relief role this season to begin his Rockies career.

Marquez, who’s currently recovering from Tommy John surgery, was acquired from Tampa Bay in January 2016, along with reliever Jake McGee, in exchange for outfielder Corey Dickerson and prospect Kevin Padlo. It turned out to be one of the best trades in Rockies history.

Marquez was just 20 at the time of the trade and had not pitched above High-A ball. He made his major-league debut in September 2016 and was an All-Star in 2021. From 2017-22, he was a durable starter and only three more pitchers made more starts than Marquez: Gerrit Cole, Patrick Corbin, and Aaron Nola.

To make room for Molina on the 40-man roster, Colorado released right-hander Connor Seabold.

Molina, listed at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, went 5-7 with a 4.50 ERA and 102 strikeouts through 28 games (27 starts) between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham this past season. He was 3-2 with a 4.37 ERA in 13 Triple-A games. The native of San Joaquin, Venezuela, originally was signed by the Rays as a non-drafted international free agent on July 2, 2018.

“He has a big fastball that sits at 96 (mph) and can hit 98,” Monfort said. “His slider is getting better and sharper than it has been in the past, and he has a really solid changeup. You don’t really run across a guy who has his numbers and the stuff and a lack of injury history. He’s super young and we are taking a chance on a guy with a huge upside. We may be looking at an impact starter down the way.”

The annual Rule 5 Draft, which comes at the end of the winter meetings, gives teams a chance to select players not protected on 40-man rosters, thus giving the players a chance to make a major-league roster. For major league teams, it provides a chance to make a relatively low-risk move to enhance their roster.

Players available in the Rule 5 Draft were not added to their club’s 40-man roster at the mid-November deadline. Once selected, for $100,000, they must stick on their new team’s 26-man roster for the full season or get offered back to their former team for $50,000.

McMahon challenged. General manager Bill Schmidt expects more from veteran third baseman Ryan McMahon, who signed a six-year, $70 million contract in March 2021. Schmidt made that clear during the winter meetings when he referred to McMahon as “an average player.”

“We would like to see him more (consistently) put the ball in play,” Schmidt said. “Cut down on strikeouts, put the ball in play. He’s capable of being a .260, .270 hitter — not a .240 hitter.

“If you look, he’s an average player right now, and I’ve told him that. He’s an above-average defender, which makes him (an) average player, but he can be better. There are a lot of people that believe that, and he’s aware of that.”

McMahon, a Gold Glove finalist for three consecutive seasons, slashed .240/.322/.431 with 23 homers and 70 RBIs in 2023. His strikeout rate was 31.6%, well above the league average of 22.6%.

“For him, it’s about being a consistent hitter,” Schmidt said. “There was a point there, during a six-week period (beginning) in late May, when he was one of the better players in the league and he was doing what he’s capable of doing offensively.”

The third baseman slashed .349/.434/.644 with eight home runs, 11 doubles, two triples, 25 RBIs over 35 games from May 12-June 19.

Fernandez honored. Rolando Fernandez was honored as Major League Baseball’s international scout of the year on Wednesday.

Fernandez, 56, became Colorado’s roving Latin American coordinator in 1998, then was promoted to director of Latin American operations in 2002, director of international operations in 2008 and vice president for international scouting and player development in 2015. He has been involved with the signings of 29 major leaguers, including pitchers Ubaldo Jimenez and Antonio Senzatela, as well as current top prospects Adael Amador and Yanquiel Fernandez.

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Are the Rockies looking to sell off some outfield/corner infield prospects for MLB-ready pitching?

— Andrew, Fort Lupton

Andrew, greetings from the MLB winter meetings from the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville. If you’ve never been here, it’s a pretty amazing place: an indoor tourist city under a steel-and-glass roof with a fake river and Christmas lights. Think of the movie “The Truman Show.”

But I digress.

General manager Bill Schmidt told me Monday that he’s open to trading both established players and prospects in exchange for pitching. Whether that happens or not remains a huge question mark. As far as corner players go, the club could dangle outfielders Sean Bouchard and Hunter Goodman, and perhaps DH/first baseman Elehuris Montero. The problem is, to get an MLB-ready pitcher, the Rockies would have to create a package or part with a more established player such as third baseman Ryan McMahon or some of their best young prospects that aren’t on the 40-man roster yet. I don’t know if the Rockies are willing to part with their youngsters because I think they know that team knows it won’t be a contender until 2025, at the earliest.

I still maintain that second baseman Brendan Rodgers is Colorado’s most likely trade chip, in part because he still has two years of arbitration left and also because he has untapped potential.

I just wanted to say thanks for continuing to cover this team despite the front office’s lackluster approach to fielding competitive baseball. I imagine it can be frustrating to deal with an onslaught of fan negativity whilst trying to remain unbiased in your reporting. Here’s to hoping a solid team comes together in the next couple of years and we can relive the joy and excitement of “this-game-matters” baseball past July.

— Chris Boothroy, Parker

Chris, thanks for that.

I admit that it’s discouraging covering a team that has been so bad for five straight seasons. Interest in the Rockies has dwindled dramatically in recent years, which is a shame because I think Colorado loves baseball and it would be great to see LoDo come alive again in September and October. (Sigh)

When the dog days of summer arrive, I have to remind myself that writing about a big-league team is still a pretty good gig, even if the Rockies are way down the Colorado sports totem pole in terms of popularity.

Hey Patrick, what do you think the odds are of us landing Shohei Ohtani? I can’t imagine it’s very good, but let’s say we land him: How much would he help this team and would they ever let him pitch in Coors Field or would they just have him be on the mound on the road? Thanks!

— Quinn, Highlands Ranch

Quinn, you sort of answered your question. The Rockies’ chances of landing Ohtani are zero — with a capital Z and a capital O.

First of all, Ohtani is projected to sign a contract worth more than $500 million over 10 to 12 years. There is no way the Rockies can pay him that much. Plus, even when he returns to the mound after elbow surgery — he won’t pitch in 2024 — there is no way he would consider pitching at Coors Field. Plus, he’s a big-market star. The Rockies are not a big-market team.

Looking at the Rockies and their roster right now, what letter grade would you give them? What areas are deficient and need to be addressed?

— Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.

Ed, you don’t mess around with your questions.

Right now, I’d give the roster a D. Coming off a 103-loss season, and the state of the Rockies’ injured rotation, might prompt an F, but the young position talent has the Rockies projecting upward.

Pitching, both starting and relieving, remains the team’s weakest link. The addition of right-hander Cal Quantrill has given the rotation a boost, but we don’t know for sure when right-handers German Marquez and Antonio Senzatela will return from Tommy John surgery. Nor do we know how they will perform.

The emergence of rookie shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, along with rookie outfielders Brenton Doyle and Nolan Jones, forms the nucleus of the team going forward. I still believe that third baseman Ryan McMahon has not reached his full potential as a hitter, but I’ve said that many times over, so now’s the time for him to take the next step. I’m sure there is more in the tank for second baseman Brendan Rodgers.

So there is potential in the day-to-day lineup. Now those players have to perform.

Do you think the Rox will make a run for any starting pitching or catcher and will they re-sign Brent Suter, who was very reliable last year?

— Allan Fredericks, Louisville

Allan, I’ve already discussed the starting pitching situation a number of times. I believe the Rockies will look for a veteran catcher to back up Elias Diaz. The catcher would likely be signed to a minor-league deal with a chance to make the team in spring training. Those types of deals often happen in January and February. While the Rockies liked backup catcher Austin Wynn’s defense last season, general manager Bill Schmidt said Monday that he’s seeking a catcher with more pop in his bat. Wynn’s hit .214 with one home run and eight RBIs in 177 at-bats.

As for Suter, who’s a free agent, the Rockies certainly showed some interest in re-signing the lefty before the end of the season, but the two sides never came together. Here is what Schmidt said Monday about the Rockies’ left-handed relievers: “We will wait and see what happens with Suter. Right now we have (Jalen) Beeks. We still have (Evan) Justice, and I don’t think he really showed what he’s capable of doing. He’s still going to be a good pitcher. And we have Lucas (Gilbreath) coming back from Tommy John.”

Beeks was claimed off of waivers from the Rays last month.

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The club’s iconic first baseman, who’s on track toward election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame when votes are announced Jan. 23, remains passionate about the team he suited up for during his entire 17-year career.

Despite the Rockies’ 103-loss season in 2023 — “Really tough,” he said — Helton hopes the young prospects he’s working with will embrace being a part of the Rockies.

“Hopefully, they see the pride that I take in being a Colorado Rockie,” Helton said from the club’s suite at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center. “Take pride in the city and the team. Yeah, it’s not a storied tradition, but we’ve had some really good players come through there. I think they should know the history of the team and take pride and be excited to be a Colorado Rockie.”

Helton, who lives full-time in his native Knoxville, Tenn, is providing his input during the winter meetings.

“I’m reviewing some film and taking a look at some players and talking about possible trades,” the 50-year-old Helton said. “I’m putting in my two cents.”

Helton’s official title is special assistant to general manager Bill Schmidt. The former first baseman works with Rockies minor leaguers, primarily as a part-time hitting coach. He sees potential in players like middle infielder Adael Amador and outfielders Jordan Beck and Benny Montgomery.

He’s also spent time scouting college players.

“The most exciting thing that I have done, the most productive, is watching the amateur players we are thinking about taking (in the draft),” he said. “There are some good hitters, some impact-type bats that are exciting to see.”

Helton said he’s especially impressed with Wake Forest first baseman Nick Kurtz.

Helton, who retired from baseball after the 2013 season, acknowledges that he’s not around players enough to be their hitting coach, per se, but hopes he’s teaching the players some baseball lessons.

“I talk about their approach and what they can expect,” he said. “I talk about adjustments they need to make now so that when they go up a level they will still be able to compete.”

Helton, who hit .316 and had a career on-base percentage of .414, does have a pet peeve about many of today’s young players.

“I can’t stand watching players hit with two strikes now,” he said. “They swing like it’s a 3-0 count. I talk to the Rockies’ (young) players a lot about that. About being able to put a ball in play when a ball needs to be put in play.”

This past season, Helton was impressed by rookie shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and rookie left fielder Nolan Jones.

“I thought Tovar had a really good first year and he’s something to get excited about,” Helton said. “Jones is a young guy who impressed. What surprised me about him was his defense in the outfield. I thought of him as a first base guy.”

Helton has worked quite a bit with first baseman Michael Toglia, the club’s top pick in the 2019 draft out of UCLA. Though Toglia has flashed a good glove at first, he’s struggled at the plate and finished last season at Triple-A Albuquerque. In 76 big-league games over two seasons, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Toglia is slashing .187/.246./325 with six home runs and a 34.6% strikeout rate.

“He can pick it around the bag,” Helton said. “He’s got to cut down his strikeouts. He’s got to cut down on his swing. He’s a big guy and he’s got a lot of power. He can shorten his swing up and still have a lot of power.”

Helton nearly made it to the Hall of Fame last year, garnering 72.2% of the vote and falling 11 votes short of the 75% required for election. It was his fifth year on the ballot.

History says that Helton will be making his induction speech in July in Cooperstown, N.Y. His support from voting members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America grew from 52.0% in 2022 to 72.2% last January. Of the 22 players who reached the 70th percentile before their final ballot, only pitcher Curt Schilling failed to reach Cooperstown.

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Colorado finished the season 59-103, the third-worst record in the majors. Kansas City (56-106) and Oakland (50-112) were the only two teams with worse records. The Rockies entered the lottery tied with the A’s and the Royals with the highest percentage chance of landing the top pick, at 18.3%.

“We’re pumped at three,” said Marc Gustafson, Colorado’s senior director of scouting. “We are going to have some good opportunities there. At the end of the day, scouts will have boots on the ground like they always do. We’ll do our work, we’ll do our research. We are excited and we’re ready to roll now.”

Cleveland was the surprise winner of the lottery. The Guardians (76-86) won the No. 1 overall pick, even though they had the ninth-highest chance of winning it, at 2.0%. Cincinnati (82-80) snagged the second pick even though it had only a 0.9% chance of winning. Based solely on lottery odds, the Reds would have picked 13th and the Guardians ninth.

The Athletics will select fourth, the White Sox fifth and the Royals sixth when the draft is held next summer during the All-Star Game festivities.

Gustafson acknowledged that many of the top prospects for the 2024 are power hitters.

“There is size, there is power, there is bat speed,” he said. “It’s hitter-heavy, especially at the college ranks.”

Seeking to add depth to its system, the Rockies added 34 pitchers over the last two drafts, but Gustafson said that doesn’t mean that the Rockies won’t look at a pitcher with the No. 3 overall pick. And even though the Rockies have a lot of young talent in the outfield, Gustafson didn’t rule out that position, either.

“It sounds like a cliché but it holds true,” he said. “We are looking for the best available player. There is some size and power up top, but there is also some talent in the middle of the field and there are some pitchers who could rise to the occasion.”

According to MLB Pipeline, the top 10 prospects for the draft are: 1. JJ Wetherholt, infielder, West Virginia; 2. Nick Kurtz, first base, Wake Forest; 3. Travis Bazzana, second base, Oregon State; 4. Chase Burns, right-handed pitcher, Wake Forest; 5. Jac Caglianone, first base/left-handed pitcher, Florida; 6. Charlie Condon, first base/outfield, Georgia; 7. Brody Brecht, right-handed pitcher, Iowa; 8. Vance Honeycutt, outfielder, North Carolina; 9. PJ Morlando, outfielder, Summerville (N.C.) High School; and 10. Tommy White, third baseman, LSU.

The Rockies have drafted at No. 3 twice, selecting right-handed pitcher Jon Gray out of Oklahoma in 2013 and picking Brendan Rodgers, their current second baseman, out of Lake Mary High School (Fla.) in 2015.

The highest draft pick the Rockies ever had was in 2006, when they held the second overall selection and took right-handed pitcher Greg Reynolds out of Stanford.

Bernabel OK after shooting. Rockies third base prospect Warming Bernabel was shot in the back during a robbery attempt in his native Dominican Republic, general manager Bill Schmidt said Tuesday. Schmidt said that Bernabel, 21, was not seriously hurt and is recovering well. Bernabel’s wife was shot in the arm during the incident but she escaped a serious injury, Schmidt said.

Bernabel, Colorado’s No. 10 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, played 83 games for Double-A Hartford last season, slashing .225/.270/.338 with six home runs, 14 doubles in 83 games. He missed time with a back injury.

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But adding a power bat to fuel what’s been an anemic offense is “down the list,” general manager Bill Schmidt said Monday as Major League Baseball’s winter meetings began at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center.

“Eventually, given our young kids, and how soon our young kids are ready, they will dictate our (direction on offense),” Schmidt said, adding that his priority is to build a better bench for manager Bud Black.

Last season, the Rockies’ 163 home runs were tied for the fourth-fewest in baseball, and their .249 average and .310 on-base percentage were each the lowest in franchise history, while their .405 slugging was better than only the 2022 team (.398). But Schmidt and Black are counting heavily on more production from Gold Glove center fielder Brenton Doyle (.203/.250/.343 slash line, 10 homers), left fielder Nolan Jones (.297/.389/.542, 20), third baseman Ryan McMahon (.240/.322./.431, 23), and oft-injured veteran first baseman/designated hitter Kris Bryant (.233/.313/.367, 10).

Colorado is also intrigued by outfielder Sean Bouchard, who suffered a ruptured left biceps tendon during spring training last year and missed most of the season before being recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Sept. 1. Bouchard was in a groove at the very end of the season, putting together a career-best six-game hitting streak (.474 average) and homering in four of his last five games.

“He was going to get an opportunity last year, that’s the way it was designed,” Schmidt said. “Now I think (he’ll) probably be in more of a backup role, an extra role, than in an everyday role.

“But Sean has a history of hitting. He didn’t play (well) the first month he came back, but that last week he really started swinging the bat.”

Bouchard has slashed .304/.429/.563 through his first 48 big-league games, including 27 games in 2022.

Doyle project. It’s no secret that Doyle struggled mightily at the plate as a rookie, as evidenced not only by his .202 average and .250 on-base percentage but also by his 35% strikeout rate. The Rockies gave the center fielder an offseason plan to improve his approach at the plate.

“We want him to be a little bit more athletic and use his hands … find a rhythm,”  Schmidt said.

Tommy John updates. The Rockies remain hopeful that right-hander German Marquez will be able to return to the big leagues after the All-Star game, but righty Antonio Senzatela won’t be ready until September, at the earliest. Both starting pitchers underwent Tommy John surgery last year, Marquez in May and Senzatela in July.

“People have said that ‘Senza’ could return in September, but that would only be 15 months (since Tommy John),” Schmidt said. “Is he gonna be ready to go in September? I’m not sure. I’m not sure how it will play out.”

Lefty reliever Lucas Gilbreath, a graduate of Broomfield’s Legacy High School, underwent Tommy John surgery in March. Schmidt expects Gilbreath to be ready to pitch in spring training.

“Lucas is on track and he should be ready to go in spring training, to some extent,” Schmidt said.

Right-hander Daniel Bard, the club’s closer in 2022, finished the season on the 15-day injured list with a right flexor strain on Sept. 27. He had two platelet-rich injections (PRP) after the season and Schmidt said that Bard “feels good and feels normal.”

Leyland on Helton. Longtime manager Jim Leyland, who was elected on Sunday to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the contemporary era committee, doesn’t have a lot of fond memories about the one year he spent managing the Rockies in 1999.

“I left Colorado because I just didn’t feel like I could make a difference,” Leyland said Monday. “I stepped away from managing for six years and when I left Colorado I thought I might not manage again.”

But after six years working for the Cardinals as a scout, he did manage again, leading the Tigers for eight seasons and taking them to two World Series.

But one fond memory Leyland has about his time in Colorado was managing Todd Helton, who was in his second full season in the majors and a budding star. Helton hit .320 with 35 homers and 39 doubles in 1999.

Leyland said he’s received 294 congratulatory text messages, including one from Helton, who’s expected to be elected to the Hall of Fame next month and could join Leyland on the stage in Cooperstown, N.Y. in July.

“I texted with Todd this morning and my message was, ‘I hope we go in together,’ ” Leyland said. “He was a great, great player and he hit the ball to all fields. He hit with power. He was a great defensive first baseman. I hope it works out for him.”

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General manager Bill Schmidt has already made one significant move, acquiring right-hander Cal Quantrill in a trade with the Cleveland Guardians last month. But there are so many holes to fill, searching for pitching will top the Rockies’ to-do list when Major League Baseball’s winter meetings begin Monday in Nashville.

But the team just might have a partial solution already on its roster in 26-year-old right-hander Peter Lambert, who’d become something of a forgotten man until he flashed promise in the second half of the 2023 season.

“I thought it was a great year, and it was a win for me — personally,” Lambert said toward the end of the season. “I had a couple of rough years, for sure, and coming into this year there were still a lot of question marks as to whether I could stay healthy and what I could do on the mound.

“But I think I went out there and answered some of those questions, for sure, and I’m happy where I’m at and excited for the future.”

From July 1 through Sept. 4, Lambert went 2-4 with a 3.60 ERA over nine starts while striking out 30 and walking 11. Lambert pitched six innings or more in each of his last five starts and allowed three runs or fewer in four of them. In an Aug. 18 game against the White Sox at Coors Field, Lambert pitched a seven-inning gem, allowing one run on four hits, striking out five and walking one.

Lambert, who was already scheduled to pitch limited innings, saw his season end early when he was shut down because of right biceps tendinitis after a poor start vs. the Giants on Sept. 10. He’s expected to be full go for spring training.

Despite all the arm issues that have derailed his career, Lambert’s average fastball velocity of 93.4 mph was up a tick compared to his debut season in 2019 when his fastball averaged 92.7 mph, according to FanGraphs.

“Peter is now ready to take on the challenge of being an integral part of our rotation,” manager Bud Black said. “He pitches with grit and heart and has the stuff to be a successful major league pitcher. He now knows what he needs to do.”

If Black is right, Lambert’s emergence would be huge.

The Rockies’ rotation, ravaged by injuries and lacking quality depth, posted a 5.91 ERA last season, the highest in the majors and the second-highest in franchise history behind the 1999 club (6.19). Colorado starters combined for a 28-70 record and made just 39 quality starts, the lowest in the National League and the second-fewest for a full season in franchise history, ahead of only the 2012 Rockies’ 27 quality starts.

The rotation will be without veteran right-hander German Marquez and Antonio Senzatela at the start of the season as they recover from Tommy John surgery. Lefties Kyle Freeland and Austin Gomber lead the staff, with right-handers Ryan Feltner, Quantrill and Lambert penciled in to fill out the rest of the 2024 rotation.

The Rockies have been waiting for Lambert to blossom ever since he was drafted in the second round out of California’s San Dimas High School in 2015. He debuted in 2019 at age 22, but it was a rocky rookie season. He put up a 7.25 ERA over 19 starts.

Then came the elbow problems.

In June 2020, during the pandemic, Lambert suffered a torn UCL and underwent Tommy John surgery. He was back on the mound by August 2021 and pitched during the final month of the season. But he never looked right as he struggled to an 11.12 ERA over 5 2/3 innings at the big-league level.

The elbow issues lingered throughout the 2022 season, and he pitched just 8 2/3 innings over four games at Triple-A Albuquerque before getting shut down in June.

But Lambert is healthy now and is participating in a normal offseason workout routine.

While the Rockies’ 103-loss season was a disaster on many levels, Lambert’s comeback, though short in duration, provided a silver lining.

“There’s no doubt I had to prove things to myself,” Lambert said. “In the second half of the season, I proved that I could handle a starter’s workload, and I had some success. The most success I’ve had in my career, to this point, for sure.

“Where I’m at, innings-wise and what our goal was this season, it was the right move.”

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Will there be a blockbuster trade involving Juan Soto or Pete Alonso? Will the Orioles open their wallets and sign a big-name closer? Will the Diamondbacks build on their surprising run to the World Series?

But the Rockies? They tend to be wallflowers at the winter meetings. Perhaps things will be different this year, but don’t expect the Rockies to stoke the hot stove at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.

Here’s a look at the Rockies’ needs and possible moves at the winter meetings and in the coming months:

Starting pitching: Colorado made a significant trade last month by acquiring right-hander Cal Quantrill in exchange for minor league catching prospect Kody Huff. Coming off a 103-loss season, general manager Bill Schmidt said the Rockies would be “open to everything” to obtain starting pitching. But the Coors Field factor and high costs mean the Rockies won’t be trying to land the likes of free agent Blake Snell. If the Rockies make a move, it’s likely to be an under-the-radar acquisition.

Relief pitching: History tells us that if the Rockies make a free-agent splash, it’ll likely come in the bullpen. Last year, the Rockies signed right-hander Pierce Johnson to a one-year, $5 million deal and he opened the season as the club’s closer. He was traded to Atlanta before the deadline in exchange for pitching prospects Victor Vodnik and Tanner Gordon.

The Rockies’ closer situation remains in flux, with right-handers Justin Lawrence, Tyler Kinley and Daniel Bard (if he can rebound from his terrible 2023 season) the most likely candidates. That’s unless the Rockies sign a free agent or make a trade.

Power bat: The Rockies’ 163 home runs were tied for the fourth-fewest in baseball and their .249 average and .310 on-base percentage were each the lowest in franchise history, while their .405 slugging was better than only the 2022 team (.398). Clearly, the Rockies’ offense needs to improve, but with Kris Bryant making $28 million next season and veteran Charlie Blackmon back for a $13 million payday, it’s doubtful the Rockies will make a big move to add needed oomph to their lineup. They’re counting on young players like outfielder Nolan Jones to continue maturing.

Trade candidates: The player bandied about most often is second baseman Brendan Rodgers, not because the Rockies don’t like the 2022 Gold Glove winner, but because Rodgers is their most valuable trading chip in their quest for a pitcher. Last year, the Rockies had trade talks with the Marlins and Mariners about Rodgers but a deal was never closed.

The two other players the Rockies might consider moving — emphasis on might — are third baseman Ryan McMahon and catcher Elias Diaz, a first-time All-Star last season.

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The Rockies hope they’re getting the same pitcher who was outstanding in 2022 when he went 15-5 with a 3.38 ERA over 186 1/3 innings (32 starts) and helped the Guardians win the American League Central title.

But Quantrill, 28, saw his ERA balloon to 5.24 with the Guardians this past season as he dealt with lingering shoulder issues. He spent two stints on the injured list and pitched just 99 2/3 innings. Still, it was a surprise when the Guardians designated him for assignment earlier this week.

“I don’t pretend to understand how the business of baseball works, but I think I’m in a real good place right now,” Quantrill said in a phone interview. “I think I probably tried to battle through the (soreness) a little bit longer than I should have last year. But the rest got me to where I needed to be. I think I finished the season strong, I’m having a good offseason and I’m excited to put together a complete season.”

Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt believes Quantrill is healthy and will fortify Colorado’s rotation.

“He pitched nearly 190 innings in ’22 when he went 15-5, and he was very effective,” said Schmidt, who added that the deal came together over the last couple of days. “He had some shoulder (problems) last season, but if you look at his last six starts, that was the best he was all year. He was pretty good and that showed us that he was healthy.”

Quantrill went 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA in his six September starts, limiting hitters to a .230 average and giving up just three home runs.

The right-hander incorporated a split-finger changeup into his arsenal last year during spring training. His shoulder woes prevented him from mastering the splitter, but he said it will be an effective pitch for him in the future.

“We got to a point where I was grinding a bit with my shoulder, so I wasn’t able to incorporate it like I wanted to, but I think if you saw what I did in September, it was a valuable pitch and I used it a lot,” he said. “It added something to my arsenal — a little swing-and-miss and some weak contact. I’m pretty excited about what I can do with it.”

In exchange for Quantrill, Cleveland will receive minor league catching prospect Kody Huff. Additionally, the Rockies designated right-hander Tommy Doyle to create room on the 40-man roster.

Quantrill is entering his second year of salary arbitration and is projected to make about $6.5 million. He will be under the Rockies’ control for two more seasons.

Quantrill instantly becomes a key cog in a rotation that will be without right-handers German Marquez and Antonio Senzatela to start the 2024 season as they recover from Tommy John surgery. Left-handers Kyle Freeland and Austin Gomber will be the veterans on the staff, while right-handers Peter Lambert and Ryan Feltner are expected to compete for the back-end spots in the rotation.

Riddled by injuries, the Rockies set a franchise record by using 17 different starters in 2023, two more than the 1993 and 2014 Rockies. The starters pitched to a 5.91 ERA, the highest in the majors and the second-highest in franchise history, behind the 1999 club’s 6.19 ERA. Rockies starting pitchers made just 39 quality starts, the fewest in the National League and the second-fewest in a full season in club history, ahead of only the 2012 rotation’s 27 quality starts.

Quantrill said he understands the challenge of pitching at Coors Field, where he’s posted a 6.91 ERA and served up four home runs in five games (two starts) over 14 1/3 innings.

“It’s obviously a thing, pitching at altitude, but everyone’s got to pitch there — the opposing pitcher, too,” he said. “It is what it is. I look forward to the challenge. It’s about beating the guy from the other team.

“I’ll make sure and touch base with the other guys on the staff and learn some of the tips and tricks about staying healthy and pitching well in Colorado. I see it as a challenge and not something to shy away from.”

Quantrill, a Canadian from Port Hope, Ontario, has appeared in 132 major league games and made 94 starts, going 35-23 with a 3.83 ERA and 1.262 WHIP. He is not a strikeout pitcher, as evidenced by his career rate of 6.7 Ks per nine innings, but Schmidt likes his tenacity.

“We were looking to get better on the mound,” Schmidt said. “He’s a good competitor and we are looking to get innings. We’re hoping that if he’s healthy he’ll be able to provide that. He eats innings. He’s not a big swing-and-miss guy, but he’s doing something right.”

Quantrill is the son of former major league pitcher Paul Quantrill, who pitched for 14 seasons for seven teams, mostly as a reliever. He finished his career 68-78 with a 3.83 ERA.

Cal Quantrill was the Padres’ first-round pick (eighth overall) in 2016 out of Stanford. He was traded to Cleveland as part of an eight-player deal on Aug. 31, 2020, that sent pitcher Mike Clevinger to the Padres.

Huff, 22, was a second-round Rockies pick out of Stanford in 2022. He’s hit .254 with five home runs and 41 RBIs in two seasons in the low minors.

Doyle, 27, made his debut in 2020 but a right shoulder injury kept him out of the majors until this past season when he went 0-1 with a 6.85 in 15 relief appearances.

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Pose a Rockies — or MLB — related question for the Rockies Mailbag.

Who’s on your All-Rockies team — one player per position — using the criteria of your choice?

— Greg, Estes Park

Wow, Greg, that’s not an easy assignment and I’m sure my choices will tick off some people. But I’ll give it my best shot. And I’m so sorry, CarGo, but you didn’t make the cut. It’s Greg’s fault.

• Right-hander starter: Ubaldo Jimenez. He burned out quickly, but from 2007-10 he was sensational, especially by Rockies standards.

• Left-handed starter: Kyle Freeland. His 2018 season (17-7, 2.85 ERA), capped off by his gem in the wild-card game at Wrigley Field against the Cubs, was magical. He’s remained a team leader and a tough-as-nails pitcher even though he’s never come close to matching his ’18 season.

• Closer: Brian Fuentes. Coors Field tends to chew up relievers but the lefty was good for a number of years. He’s Colorado’s career leader in saves (115), was a three-time All-Star with the Rockies and was the primary closer on the 2007 World Series team.

• Catcher: Yorvit Torrealba. I’m going to get pushback on this choice, I’m sure. Torrealba only hit 23 homers in 373 games with the Rockies. But his presence behind the plate in 2007 and ’09 was a key to two of the best teams in franchise history. Plus, he delivered in the postseason. He was the ultimate boss on the field.

• First base: Todd Helton. Next stop Cooperstown, N.Y., summer 2024. All things considered, the best player in Rockies history.

• Second base: DJ LeMahieu. Range, toughness, beloved teammate, Gold Glove, smart hitter, decent power. Why, oh why, did the Rockies let him go?

• Third base: Nolan Arenado. The best defensive player in franchise history who also happened to slash .293/.349/.541 with 235 homers in eight seasons with the Rockies. A human highlight reel at the hot corner and destined for the Hall of Fame.

• Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki. Sometimes I think we tend to forget just how good Tulo was before injuries sabotaged his career. He was a five-time All-Star, should have been the NL rookie-of-the-year in 2007, and set a high bar for everyone who played with him. Tulo had a .885 OPS during his nine-plus season in Colorado.

• Left field: Matt Holliday. Lots of competition here, but my vote goes to Holliday, who might have touched home plate in Game 163 vs. the Padres. Before he became a star in St. Louis, Holliday was a stud in Colorado with a .319/.387/.550 slash line, 131 OPS+, and 18.5 WAR in six seasons.

• Center field: Charlie Blackmon. We now tend to think of Blackmon as a right fielder, but during his best seasons, he played center. He has to be on my team in center because there is another guy starting in right field on my team.

Blackmon wasn’t a great fielder in center but was solid. His 2017 season was one of the best in Rockies history. He set career highs in batting average (.331), games (159), runs, hits, triples (14), home runs (37), total bases, RBI (104), walks (65), on-base percentage (.399) and slugging percentage (.601).

Plus, he set a major league record with 103 RBI from the leadoff position, surpassing Darin Erstad’s previous mark of 100 set with the Angels in 2000. His 86 extra-base hits were the third-most by a leadoff hitter in major league history and the highest ever by a National League leadoff hitter.

• Right field: Larry Walker. The Rockies’ only league MVP when, in 1997, he slashed .366/.452/.720 with 49 homers, 130 RBIs and 409 total bases. That’s right 409. He’s already in Cooperstown, waiting for Helton.

I heard a rumor that Major League Baseball might pressure the Monforts into selling the team. I recognize this is crazy, but it holds some logic. Colorado has a great fan base and (the Monforts) aren’t willing to field a competitive team. MLB doesn’t want to lose the fan base. Thoughts?

— Eric Swanson, Aurora

Eric, I’m not sure where you heard that rumor, but if it’s true you’ve got yourself quite a scoop.

I can’t imagine that Dick Monfort would sell the team. For one thing, despite the heat he’s been feeling for the Rockies’ losing ways, he still loves being an owner. As one agent told me this summer: “The Rockies are his baby.”

For another, the expectation is that he is going to pass on the team to his sons, Walker and Sterling.

Walker is the vice president of corporate partnerships and is responsible for the oversight and management of the club’s revenue generated through sponsorships. He works on the business side.

Sterling works on the baseball side as the director of professional scouting.

Your contention that MLB believes that the Rockies are in danger of losing their fan base is way off base. Commissioner Rob Manfred, as well as a number of other owners, admire the Rockies’ ability to keep fans coming to Coors Field. By all accounts, Manfred and Monfort have grown pretty tight, especially since the Rockies took over the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta on short notice.

Also, Monfort was the chairman of the labor policy committee for MLB in 2021-22 during the lockout prior to the new CBA being signed.

Finally, the Rockies’ value in May  2023, according to Forbes, was $1.475 billion. The Rockies don’t win on the baseball diamond but the team’s value has soared.

Clearly, this “draft-and-develop” mentality that the Rockies have just isn’t cutting it. I am well aware that the Rockies’ track record with free-agent signings hasn’t fared much better in recent years but I blame that more on the lack of competency in the front office. The front office has a tendency to sign players (especially pitchers) who don’t have the necessary tools to pitch at altitude. While I’m beginning to feel more optimistic about our young hitters, where do the Rockies go from here, especially considering we have a front office and owner that refuses to leave its comfort zone?

— Leo, Boulder

Leo, you and I disagree. I think a mid-market team like the Rockies should be a draft-and-develop team — with some smart trades and free-agent acquisitions in the mix. There’s nothing wrong with the philosophy. The Diamondbacks and Orioles made it work this past season.

The problem is, the Rockies just haven’t done it very well. I believe we made that clear in our end-of-the-season “Rockie Way” project.

Outside of the signing of Kris Bryant — a move that was steered by owner Dick Monfort — I think general manager Bill Schmidt has done some smart things, chief among them acquiring outfielder Nolan Jones in a trade from the Guardians. That said, some of the draft picks that he helped make when he was scouting director have busted.

I’ll be curious to see if Schmidt can make any deals this offseason to improve Colorado’s pitching.

Hey Patrick, I was reminiscing about the time we won the NL pennant and then I realized it was 16 years ago. Do you see the team moving in a direction that could get us our first NL West pennant in the next few years? I like that Nolan Jones and Brenton Doyle look like fixtures in the outfield. But we need a lot more to be a .500 team, let alone a contender. What would you do this offseason if you had the GM hat?

— Marvin, Wheat Ridge

Marvin, first, I’d ask for a big raise. Then I would have a sit-down with owner Dick Monfort and make it clear that some things need to be shaken up, even if it means trading homegrown players such as Brendan Rodgers or Ryan McMahon.

I would attempt to trade established position players, such as Rodgers or McMahon, in an attempt to land a pitching prospect who would be ready to make an impact by 2025, when I think the offense has a chance to be better.

I would convince Monfort to spend money on a free-agent slugger because the Rockies need a dangerous power hitter and they don’t really have one.

Then I’d go out to the pitching mound at Coors Field and make an offering to the baseball gods asking for the Rockies’ rash of pitching injuries to end.

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