The hot stove season is in full effect, and all 30 baseball clubs are looking to improve as the 2018 campaign looms. The Colorado Rockies impressed last season by making the postseason for the first time in nearly a decade as the second Wild Card in the National League. Coming off their best season in years, expectations are sky-high for the Rockies moving forward, with the front office looking to bolster the roster at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida.
The Rockies’ most significant focus lies within the bullpen. Last season, the trio of Greg Holland, Jake McGee, and Chris Rusin held down the fort for Colorado in the ‘pen. Now, both McGee and Holland are free agents and Pat Neshek, who the team acquired at last season’s trade deadline, has already re-signed with the Philidelphia Phillies.
With that, the Rockies have continued to woo Holland while monitoring the situation on McGee as well. Outside of that, the team has been linked to many bullpen arms as they look to lock things down at the end of ballgames.
Regardless, relief pitching is Colorado’s top priority this offseason. To break things down, Manny Randhawa of MLB.com joined Ronnie K and Aniello Piro on the Mile High Sports airwaves Monday night to discuss the Rockies’ offseason shopping list.
“Number One: address the back end of the bullpen,” Randhawa said, regarding what the Rockies need to do this offseason. “After going to the postseason and having your sights set higher this year in terms of making it further in October, you need to address the back end of the bullpen, solidify the setup man and closer role.”
The Rockies have been linked to Chicago Cubs closer Wade Davis and Tampa Rays closer Alex Colome, among other high-end relievers on the market.
Colorado has made one significant move this offseason: signing free agent catcher Chris Iannetta to a two-year, $8.5-million-dollar contract. There has been little traction on any other fronts, but there is a growing expectation the Rockies will leave the Winter Meetings with a back-end relief pitcher.
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