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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The deal was announced after days of speculation where the unique, two-way star would continue his career after six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.

“This is a unique, historic contract for a unique, historic player,” Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo of CAA Sports, said in a statement. “He is excited to begin this partnership, and he structured his contract to reflect a true commitment from both sides to long-term success.”

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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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As a lottery ticket, was it worth a flyer for the pitching-starved Purple? Sure. Schmidt and the Rockies can sell this as giving up almost nada for a smart (ex-Stanford), courteous (he’s Canadian) veteran (he’ll be 29 next February) starter to fill out a rotation that got completely nuked by injuries last summer.

“Quan” went 23-8 and averaged 168 innings for the Guardians in ’21 and ’22 before hitting the skids (4-7, 5.24 ERA) this past season. On a macro level, it fits.

Rox brain trust see a crafty righty who’ll take the ball every five days and allow the dudes in the bullpen to play Immaculate Grid until the sixth inning when it’s his day on the bump. The peripherals, though? The peripherals see a pitch-to-contact guy who gives up a ton of contact coming to a home ballpark where contact guys, by and large, wind up getting mashed into Thanksgiving taters.

Quantrill, Rockies savior — D

The GTW posse, full disclosure, are an analytical bunch. And what the analytics say about Quantrill says a lot about what the Rockies think about analytics. (Spoiler: not much.)

To wit: The average American League opponent slugging percentage this past season was .410. Quantrill allowed a .437 clip. The average line-drive rate was 23.8%. Quan’s was 27.6%. The average strikeout rate was 23.3% Quan’s was 13.1%.

But he’s a sinker guy who theoretically throws strikes, so the Rockies squinted and saw a match.

The only catch?

They’ve got to “find” it again.

Said sinker, per BaseballSavant.com, was indeed a “plus” pitch in terms of run value (or ability to limit runs, if you like) in 2019, ’20, ’21 and ’22. However, it was Q’s worst pitch last summer, per advanced stats, while his best was … his curveball. Coors Field loves curves!

Also per Statcast, the 35 home runs Quantrill was mapped with giving up the last two seasons would be 41 dingers at Coors. Among National League parks, only Great American Ballpark in Cincy (47), American Family Field in Milwaukee (44), Chase Field in Arizona (42) and Dodger Stadium (42) would’ve seen more of his balls leave the yard. So basically, three out of the five are in the NL West. Or a majority of the schedule to come. Welcome home, Cal!

Summers at Coors are great, dude. You’ll love it. Well, except for the pitching part.

Former Buffs football coaches — B

Deion Sanders isn’t the only FBS football coach with CU ties who had a rough October. Our old buddy Mike MacIntyre, now the head man at FIU, took his Panthers into Arkansas on Saturday with a 4-6 mark following a 3-1 start to the campaign.

At the lower levels, though, the news is sunnier in Ralphie circles. A hat-tip to Darrin Chiaverini, who in his first season as a full-time collegiate head coach, has the Chaffey (Calif.) Community College Panthers 10-0 and champs of the American Metro Conference. The Panthers are slated to face Pasadena City in the American Championship Bowl on Nov. 25 in a rematch of a game played back on Sept. 30 — a 31-21 Panthers victory.