MLB Hot Stove 2013: Colorado Rockies report

Each day in November—leading up to the winter meetings—Sporting News will analyze the offseason to-do list of a major league team. Today: the Colorado Rockies.
The Rockies understood they had a mess on their hands, and the shortcuts they tried to take to fix the problems — signing a ton of old, injury-prone players last offseason — had no chance of working.

Troy Tulowitzki's name isn't being thrown around in trade rumors. But that doesn't mean the Rockies won't listen if called. (AP Photo)

Therefore, they realigned their front office in an attempt to narrow the focus in several areas, but that shuffling will work only if the club can sign/acquire some starting pitching. The changes to the hierarchy put general manager Dan O’Dowd in charge of the minor leagues and player development, while assistant general manager Bill Geivett now is responsible for the major league team and pitching management.
And there is plenty of work to go around.

OFFSEASON AGENDA

The 890 runs the Rockies allowed this past were 45 more than any other major league team, and only some of that can be blamed on playing at Coors Field (their 367 runs allowed on the road were the 12th-most in the majors).
The problem for Geivett is that Colorado has no chance of nabbing a premier starting pitcher in free agency, so the team has to target lower-tier arms. On the trade front, Ricky Nolasco could be had from the Miami Marlins and Gavin Floyd could be pried away from the Chicago White Sox. In free agency, Francisco Liriano, Kevin Correia and Roberto Hernandez (formerly known as Fausto Carmona) are possibilities. If the Rockies are looking for cost certainty over the next three seasons, they could extend center fielder Dexter Fowler because he still is under team control. The dilemma they face, however, is that Fowler is more valuable to them in a trade (even if they extend him).
With so many teams looking for a center fielder—and with the prices being so high for free agents such as Josh Hamilton, Michael Bourn and B.J. Upton — Fowler would be a coveted commodity if Colorado decided to discuss him with other teams. And because he plays a premium position, he could net young the pitching the organization desperately needs.

POSSIBLE DEPARTURES

Lefthander Jeff Francis, reserve first baseman Jason Giambi and lefthander Jonathan Sanchez are all free agents, and there is a decent chance none of them will return. After being a finalist for the managerial job that ultimately went to Walt Weiss and turning down the opportunity to be the team’s hitting coach, Giambi appears interested in continuing his playing career elsewhere.
Like Fowler, right fielder Michael Cuddyer and reserve outfielder Tyler Colvin are trade candidates. Fowler, an Atlanta native, would make some sense for the Atlanta Braves. He can cover that big outfield at Turner Field, and the Braves have the rotation depth from which to deal. The Philadelphia Phillies also would be a logical trade partner if the Rockies explore the possibility of moving Fowler.
Cuddyer and Colvin won’t bring as much in return as Fowler, but they have value because they can play multiple positions.
Colorado doesn't plan to trade shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, but teams will call to see if they change that.

EARLY 2013 OUTLOOK

The pitching staff has too many holes to become reliable in one offseason, so the Rockies again will be looking up at most (if not all) of the NL West.