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Colorado Rockies Stay The Course, Opting To Reload Rather Than Rebuild

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The Colorado Rockies have never believed in blowing the team up to rebuild with draft picks and prospects, despite a blueprint laid down by recent worst-to-firsts Houston, the Chicago Cubs, Baltimore and NL West rival Arizona.

This could have been a time to consider it, after a franchise-worst 59-103 record a year ago and a pitching staff that will open the season with two of its top three starters — German Marquez and Antonio Senzatela — expected to miss the majority of the year following Tommy John surgery.

Capitulating in any form goes against the Rockies’ organizational DNA, however, and they demonstrated that again this week by signing shortstop Ezequiel Tovar to a seven-year, $63.5 million contract extension Tuesday.

“We are putting together pieces that we feel are going to be a championship team, and he’s going to be part of it going forward,” general manager Bill Schmidt said.

“I believe in our players, and I’ve said it. I believe in our young players coming. We have some good players here and we are looking forward to the season and what the future holds for us.”

Tovar, 20, was a Gold Glove finalist last season and hit 15 homers to go with 11 stolen bases, establishing himself as a fixed part of the Rockies’ future.

Before signing Tovar, the Rockies rank 15th in the majors with a $132.385 million payroll, according to Spotrac, about $20 million below league average and one slot ahead of the Diamondbacks.

Tovar, left fielder Nolan Jones, center fielder Brenton Doyle and infielder Elehuris Montero are among the younger position players who are expected to receive extended playing time as the Rockies look forward.

They join a veteran group that includes Charlie Blackmon, Kris Bryant, Brendan Rodgers, Ryan McMahon and Elias Diaz. Blackmon is second in franchise history in hits, doubles and total bases, ranking behind only Hall of Famer Todd Helton in each category.

“These are guys coming into their own as major league players, combined with the guys who have service time,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “It’s a good group, position player-wise, if we stay on the field, stay healthy and perform like they are capable. It’s a good lineup.”

Jones, acquired in a trade with Cleveland before the 2023 season, developed into one of the Rockies’ most potent two-way players a year ago after starting the season in the minors.. He had 20 homers, 20 stolen bases and 19 outfield assists while finishing fourth in the BBWAA Rookie of the Year voting last year.

Doyle, a fourth-round pick in the 2019 draft, had 10 assists and won a Gold Glove in his first full major league season.

Montero and starter Austin Gomber were two of the major pieces acquired in the Nolan Arenado trade with St. Louis prior to the 2021 season, a move that was motivated by salary.

The Rockies have heard some criticism regarding their roster moves since trading Arenado, was owed $198 million over the final six years of an eight-year, $260 million extension signed in the spring of 2019. The Rockies also paid St. Louis $15 million of then remaining money in 2021 and $20 million that is to be paid in $4 million chunks from 2023-27.

Colorado did not pursue second baseman D.J. LeMahieu and shortstop Trevor Story when they reached free agency in 2019 and 2022, respectively, a belief in Tovar factoring into the Story decision.

Instead of banking the savings they signed free agent Kris Bryant to a seven-year, $182 million free agent deal in the spring of 2022. Injuries have curtailed Bryant’s effectiveness — he has played only 122 games in two seasons, with 15 homers in 536 plate appearances

But it was the kind of move that defined the Rockies’ front office.

Go for it.

Now.

Factoring in the debilitating injuries to Marquez and Senzatela, the Rockies have had difficulty in competing in a division dominated by the big-spending Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. They have not made the playoffs since 2018.

Yet the derailing injuries have not convinced the Rockies to deviate from their plan — competing year by year via the marketplace.

“Our organization did not totally go that route because we’ve always wanted to put the best team possible we could each and every year to win as many games as possible,” Black said.

“That is a tribute to our organization and our owner, who wanted to try to do that. It doesn’t work out all the time.”

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