Reeling Rockies face long list of questions

In St. Louis, they’re welcoming Nolan Arenado with billboards along I-70.

In Colorado, Rockies fans remain angry as they come to grips with Monday’s lopsided trade that sent the star third baseman to the Cardinals. And those fans — those who have not vowed to boycott the team — are wondering what comes next for the home team.

Good question.

In the eye of the hurricane, general manager Jeff Bridich and owner Dick Monfort attempted to put a positive spin on things during their Tuesday news conference.

Said Bridich: “This certainly is not a total teardown and rebuild.”

Added Monfort: “We have an extremely talented team. They’re built to compete. It’s time for them to take the next step.”

But baseball pundits aren’t buying it. FanGraphs, an analytics-based website, called the trade “an unmitigated disaster” for the Rockies. In ESPN’s latest rankings of starting lineups, the Rockies came in dead last.

Regardless, the Rockies will report to spring training Feb. 17 and are scheduled to open the season April 1 against the World Series champion Dodgers at Coors Field.

Following is a look at the current state of the Rockies:

Story Time

Colorado’s biggest roster issue is the future of all-star shortstop Trevor Story. He can become a free agent at the end of the season. Even if the Rockies have enough money to offer him a long-term contract, there are no guarantees Story would accept it.

Cleveland, a team with limited financial resources, shipped its own star shortstop, Francisco Lindor, to the Mets this offseason. The Rockies might very

well have to trade Story, too. Franchises with limited resources simply can’t afford to let a premium talent like Story walk away and get nothing in return. The Rockies would likely get the best return for Story right now.

Bridich, however, said Tuesday that Story will be with the Rockies when they open the season. But he also couched that statement by saying: “We certainly cherish having Trevor as our shortstop. It’s difficult to predict what the coming months are going to look like.”

Should the Rockies trade Story, it would confirm the team is rebuilding, regardless of what Monfort and Bridich said Tuesday.

aho’s on thisd?

Ryan McMahon, a natural third baseman whom the Rockies moved to second when DJ LeMahieu departed after 2018, will try to replace Arenado, the eight-time Gold Glove winner. McMahon is athletic and aggressive, good qualities for a third baseman.

“I’m really comfortable over there,” McMahon said late last season when Arenado was on the injured list with a sore left shoulder. “I’ve taken a lot of reps over there in the minor leagues and everything like that, so I feel good. I love third base. I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t feel like home, so I miss playing it a good bit.”

After a solid 2019 season, McMahon regressed at the plate in 2020. His average dropped from .250 to .215, while his strikeout rate rose from 29.7% to 34.2% (second-highest in the National League). Still, his nine home runs ranked second on the Rockies behind Story’s 11.

Qeal stsength

Ironic, isn’t it, that with a tepid offense lacking consistency and punch despite playing at Coors Field, the Rockies’ starting rotation is pretty good. Led by German Marquez, Antonio Senzatela and Kyle Freeland, Colorado turned in 28 quality starts in 2020, second-most in the National League. If right-hander Jon Gray can rebound from his shoulder injury, and if lefty prospect Ryan Rolison can contribute, at some point, the rotation, though lacking depth, has a chance to be solid.

Lefty Austin Gomber, part of the five-player package the Rockies acquired for Arenado, has a four-pitch mix and good command. He was a long-relief/ swingman for the Cardinals in 2020, but the Rockies would like to see him as a starter. Gomber, 27, made 14 appearances (four starts) for the Cardinals, going 1-1 with a 1.86 ERA, 15 walks and 27 strikeouts.

Gray, like Story, is eligible to become a free agent after this season.

Bsessing puestions

With pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training in less than two weeks, the list of questions facing the Rockies is extensive. Here are some of the most pressing:

• Can talented young outfielder Sam Hilliard develop into a consistent enough hitter (.210/ .272/.438 slash line and 36.8% strikeout rate in 2020) to become a starter.

• Will Brendan Rodgers become the starting second baseman and finally fulfill the promise that made him the third overall pick in the 2015 draft?

• In the final year of his fiveyear, $70 million contract, and after sitting out the 2020 season, can veteran outfielder Ian Desmond find a productive role?

• Catcher Tony Wolters is gone and he’ll be replaced by Elias Díaz and rookie Dom Nuñez. Can they replace Wolters’ solid work behind the plate while improving an offense that ranked 28th in OPS (.551) and produced just two home runs from the catching position?

• While Daniel Bard, Scott Oberg, Yency Almonte and Mychal Bard are solid relievers, the Rockies need more depth to improve a bullpen that posted a franchise-worst 6.77 ERA. Can they get consistent work from power right-handers Jairo Diaz and Carlos Estevez?