I have, dear reader, somewhere deep in my closet, an old pair of shoes. I don’t walk in them anymore. They are soaked with champagne in the Coors Field clubhouse. The plan was to leave them there until they get the chance to walk on champagne again. That was a long time ago.

Since the back-to-back postseasons of 2017 and 2018, the ballclub and organization have fallen precipitously. Fan apathy has taken center stage. The identity of mostly “lovable losers” with star players you could cheer for has been lost. And the most common feeling around these parts has been pure ire directed at Bud Black or Kris Bryant. Or Jeff Bridich. Or Bill Schmidt. Most certainly and most especially Dick Monfort.

But while that last name remains, even the most hardened of hearts has to see this offseason as a sign that the times, they are a changin’. 

No reasonable observer would measure the success of this winter in a traditional way. This is not a normal time for a team to be looking at trades and the free agent market. The Rockies are not one or two savvy moves from being back in the hunt. They are taking their first steps. In a new pair of shoes.

What will define the beginning of a new era? With just a handful of acquisitions so far, it’s clear what the priority is. Raising the floor.

If building a baseball team is like building a house, then things like drafting and developing talent serve as your stand-in for building a solid foundation. What the Rockies have done in preparation for 2026 is akin to calling in some electricians and plumbers to make sure the house itself doesn’t flood or burn down. They’ll get to more long-term plans after that. Which feels fair in this analogy.

So, let’s take a look at who they got, what they bring, and what it all means.

Willi Castro

An All-Star in 2024, Castro brings an unusual mix of hard-to-measure value. His baseline numbers don’t jump off the page. For his career he has hit .244/.313/.384 for a park-and-league adjusted wRC+ of 95, roughly five percent below a league average hitter. He’s never hit more than 12 home runs, never driven in more than 60 and while he did steal 33 bases back in 2023, that is a clear outlier with his other career high sitting at 14. 

In ‘23 and ‘24 the advanced stats liked his defense and he earned decent WAR outputs (2.5, 2.9) and has weighted out above the league average in that all-encompassing metric every year of his career except the first. 

None of that tells the story of Willi Castro, however.

Arguably more important than what Castro brings to Colorado is where he will bring it. During his time with Detroit, Minnesota, and Chicago, Castro played every position on the diamond except for first base and catcher. And he has done so quite well.

For those who are sick and tired of watching the Rox lose every day but also don’t want to “block” any of the young players coming up through the system, Castro is a great fit. He can slot in wherever he is needed, even at shortstop if Ezequiel Tovar once again is struck by the injury bug. Knock on wood.

Castro’s switch-hitting takes his flexibility even farther and allows the team to more effectively platoon other players. He looks to have a strong hold on the Opening Day second base job but don’t be surprised to see him move all around the diamond as the Rockies look to introduce a young wave of talent throughout the season.

Michael Lorenzen

He’s no ace. But he might already be the Rockies best pitcher.

Kyle Freeland did have a strong 2025 quietly so he may have something to say about that. But these two are, by far, the most seasoned and accomplished pitchers in the rotation. With hopes that Chase Dollander can emerge as a young fireballer, it makes an intriguing trio.

Lorenzen, similar to Castro, has never put up monster numbers but has been tremendously consistent in his career. He has posted positive war for a decade straight, for six different teams, through a transition from the bullpen to the rotation.

In other words, despite constant change around him, Lorenzen has always found a way to contribute. Most recently, and most importantly to his new team, he has found a way to pounding the strike zone.

After hovering over the 4 BB/9 mark in three seasons, he got that number down to 2.76 in 2023, had a relapse in 2024 (4.14) then posted a career best 2.48 for the Royals a year ago. If he can keep that trending in the right direction, not only will it bode well for less chaos at Coors Field, it will set an excellent example for the up-and-coming pitchers.

Last season, the Rockies second best pitcher by bWAR was Ryan Feltner. He threw 30 innings. He and Freeland were the only two starters with positive bWAR. German Marquez, Antonio Senzatela, and Austin Gomber combined for a -2.2.

If Lorenzen can simply play to his +1.1 average since becoming a starter, he will be a massive upgrade over what they’ve had. He gives Freeland some help and Dollander more leadership. And hopefully helps put out a couple of fires and floods.

Jake McCarthy, Nicky Lopez and Troy Johnston

So, Castro and Lorenzen are electricians and plumbers? Then these guys are duct tape. You gotta have duct tape.

None are like to single-handedly change the fortunes of their new team but together they show a consistency of process. Each of these players brings a relatively low strikeout rate. They are all good athletes with versatility and speed. McCarthy in particular brings elite speed to the table, giving the Rockies a dynamic they are far-too-often missing.

Expect all three to make the Opening Day roster and probably two of the three to make the Opening Day lineup barring injury. Unless Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes start trading prospects in quick succession, these guys are likely stopgaps. Zac Veen, Charlie Condon, Cole Carrigg, and a few more of their friends are still on the way.

But with these offseason acquisitions, the Rockies are no longer relying on big leaps forward in development in order to avoid a complete disaster of a season. Don’t be mistaken, though. They are still in for a bumpy ride in their next campaign. It’ll be first steps. It’ll be baby steps. But it will be steps in new shoes. Without the house on fire.

If they are steps in the right direction… maybe… one day I can get my old shoes out of the closet too.