NASHVILLE — Acquiring more starting pitching, finding bullpen depth, building a better bench and possibly adding a backup catcher top the Rockies’ to-do list this offseason.
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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