Tyler Paddor | @typaddor | January 26, 2026
After over a decade of quiet offseasons on 20th and Blake, the Rockies–spearheaded by new President of Baseball Operations Paul DePodesta and General Manager Josh Byrnes–are upsetting that precedent.
Since the turn of the calendar, the Rockies have acquired (in order of first report) RHP Keegan Thompson, RHP Michael Lorenzen, OF Jake McCarthy, and UTIL Willi Castro. This quartet joins 1B/OF Troy Johnston, RHP Garrett Acton (DFA’d for Castro), LHP Brennan Bernardino, and RHP R.J. Petit as new members of the Rockies.
No star additions, but the Rockies inaction in recent years left them in a poor state of affairs, particularly in the middle/bottom of their roster. Already, the 2026 Rockies appear far deeper than recent Rockies squads.
It’s not certain all of these acquisitions will be in the organization come Opening Day. The Rockies have a full 40-man roster and plan to acquire more pieces to try and field a respectable 2026 roster. Still, each is likely to make it that far and their roles need to be considered.
The 2026 Transactions
Michael Lorenzen
Mid-rotation starter
Lorenzen is likely to remain the highest profile Rockies signing, joining the organization for $8M with a $9M club option for 2027. While not an overly dynamic arm, Lorenzen has a strong 3 year track record since becoming a full-time starting pitcher, logging 130+ innings in each season with ERAs of 4.18, 3.31, and 4.64 respectively. Lorenzen also logged a no-hitter at the end of the 2023 season.
Lorenzen’s career has been an interesting one, starting as a two-way player with the Reds up until 2019 before becoming a full-time reliever before entering a starting role in 2022 with the Angels.
Lorenzen throws 7 pitches–he has alluded to a possible 8th offering–and throws strikes. His stuff doesn’t exactly stand out, with no individual plus pitch but his changeup is easily above average and his slider was uber effective in 2025. A three fastball arsenal (4-seamer, 2-seamer, and cutter) also provides intrigue for figuring out Coors Field.
On that note, the 34-year-old California native represents an interesting commodity for the Rockies as they try and establish a stronger altitude-friendly pitching philosophy. With such a deep arsenal, Lorenzen opens to door to some trial and error not previously afforded by more traditional arsenals possessed by recent Rockies arms.
Lorenzen’s addition creates more competition for the backend of the Rockies rotation. With Kyle Freeland and Lorenzen sharpied into rotation spots and Chase Dollander and Ryan Feltner head and shoulders above other options, only one spot appears up for grabs.
Tanner Gordon, McCade Brown, Gabriel Hughes, and Keegan Thompson (more below) represent the other 40-man options. Sean Sullivan and Ben Shields present a pair of non-40-man southpaws who could push for the 5th spot with excellent Spring Training showings.
Willi Castro
Versatile everyday player
The Rockies were rumored to be interested in Castro back before the Winter Meetings and roughly one month later, terms were reached. The Rockies pursuit of an infielder had been more focused more on a 1B addition, though the team was unquestionably thin at 2B & 3B prior to Castro’s signing.
Castro joins Colorado after an impressive 3-year showing since leaving the Detroit Tigers following the 2022 season. Since 2023, the switch-hitting Castro has posted a solid 102 wRC+ with 32 homers and roughly average rates in both the walk (8.3%) and strikeout (24%) departments across 1,498 PAs.
The numbers were even stronger before Castro joined the Cubs at the trade deadline, struggling to adapt to his new environment. Across 1,388 PAs with the Twins since 2023, Castro’s 107 wRC+ paints a picture of a comfortably above average hitter.
Castro is a jack-of-all trades at the plate, doing everything somewhat well in terms of plate discipline, contact, and power, despite no true standout traits. However, Castro’s identity has long been established as a player who pulls the ball in the air with frequency, allowing him to top double digit homers the past two seasons with decent XBH totals. This skillset should translate particularly well to Coors Field
| Year | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Pulled-Air% | 17.1% | 20.8% | 20.3% | 19.5% |
Castro’s defensive track record is all over the place given his versatility. A shortstop by trade, Castro first played the outfield in 2021 before playing on the grass more than the dirt in 2022. In 2025, Castro seemed to lose a bit of polish on the infield, posting -9 OAA on the infield after recording 4 OAA on the dirt in 2024.
With limited success in the outfield and the Rockies outfield mostly together, Castro’s role in Colorado should center around 2B and 3B.
The Rockies options at 2B also include Adael Amador and Ryan Ritter who have both struggled to establish their bat at the big league level, though both carry everyday upside.
At the hot corner, Kyle Karros established himself as a big league caliber defender, though his slice and dice offensive approach yielded mixed results. Ritter is capable at 3B, too.
True to one of Paul DePodesta’s first statements with the Rockies, the club is going to make young players earn their playing time and Castro’s role likely depends on the success of Karros, Amador, and Ritter. Either way, Castro will likely play 140+ games for the Rockies, assuming he remains healthy.
Jake McCarthy
Potential Opening Day outfielder
The McCarthy acquisition caught us all off guard somewhat, given rumors that the Rockies may trade from their glut of MLB-ready outfielders and proximate prospects rather than acquire another one.
Yet McCarthy brings a skillset unlike any other player in the organization. McCarthy is fast as lightning with 99th percentile sprint speed and the 6th highest average sprint speed since 2021.
This speed serves the former D-Back well in the outfield where he profiles as a plus corner outfielder and above average center fielder. The speedster has 9 OAA since 2024 and has been positive in all three outfield spots.
Now, speed and defense sounds a lot like Brenton Doyle. However, McCarthy’s offensive game is starkly different from the Rockies 2-time Gold Glove winning center fielder. McCarthy is a high-contact player (16.5 K% since 2024) with low-end raw power.
McCarthy’s swing length of around 6.8 feet is on the shorter side of MLB players and his bat speed (around 68 mph on average) is also on the slower side. All in all, it means McCarthy is swinging to stay in his shoes, remaining in control and setting up for lots of balls in play.
As a side note, McCarthy mentioned to Thomas Harding that he changed some things up about his game to try and improve upon his weaknesses. Without his explicit confirmation, it appears he tried to swing harder last season (usually equates to a longer swing as well) at the expense of his usual above average bat control.
| 2024 | 2025 (+/-) | |
| Bat Speed | 67.3 mph | 69.8 mph (+2.5 mph) |
| Swing Length | 6.7 ft | 7.0 ft (+ 0.3 ft) |
McCarthy simplifying things again in 2025 could be a key to returning to his 110 wRC+ form from 2024.
Expect McCarthy to be penciled in as an Opening Day starter in one of the outfield corners. In theory, his fringey arm profiles best in LF, although that was Jordan Beck’s position most of the season. McCarthy is the only other proven CF option on the Rockies 40-man roster and will also be charged with spelling Brenton Doyle on off-days.
🏔️More on the Rockies outfield situation 🏔️
Keegan Thompson
Long reliever / longshot for Opening Day rotation
Thompson is perhaps the most interesting add in the sense that his role could vary greatly. After a promising season in 2022 with the Cubs, Thompson, then 27, looked like a long-term piece for Chicago. He logged 115 innings between the rotation and a multi-inning relief role, posting a 3.76 ERA with a 22.3 K%.
Thompson’s form slipped and he never made another start for the Cubs, appearing only as a reliever. After spending all of 2025 in Triple-A, presumably trying to tighten up his command, Thompson was outrighted by the Cubs and since it was his second time being removed from the Cubs 40-man roster, he was eligible for free agency.
The Reds initially signed Thompson to a 1-year MLB contract before DFA’ing him, giving the Rockies a chance to claim him off waivers (assuming his contract).
In Triple-A, Thompson started some games but generally came out of the bullpen in a long relief role, logging 4 or more outs in 22 of his 33 appearances. His 4S fastball sat 93 mph with some life, allowing it to miss bats at a stellar 29.5% rate. Thompson’s curveball was the moneymaker pitch though with just a .210 wOBA against it and 31.2% whiff rate.
Thompson also has a cutter that has been an average MLB pitch and a sinker, sweeper, and changeup, though the latter three don’t get a ton of use.
Thompson’s command has been questionable at times but he’s got 6 pitches, all with some quality traits, and a history of getting big league outs. There’s a slight chance Thompson could be a roster casualty if more additions are made to the roster but he’s more likely the team’s long reliever on Opening Day, replacing Anthony Molina who was DFA’d and claimed by the Braves earlier this offseason.
If everything clicks for Thompson, he could sneak his way into some starts for the Rockies in 2026.
The 2025 Transactions
Troy Johnston
1B platoon / bench bat
Johnston is the longest tenured acquisition of the post-Schmidt era as an initial waiver claim right as the offseason got under way. The 28-year-old had a long path to the big leagues as a 17th rounder back in 2019. Johnston never stopped hitting though with his lowest season-long wRC+ in a pro season standing at 104 with a maximum of 146 back in 2023.
Johnston finally cracked the Marlins roster in 2025 and impressed with 4 homers, a .331 OBP, and 109 wRC+ across 44 games. However, the Marlins–pressed for 40-man roster spots–opted to prioritize younger, higher pedigree players. In swooped the Rockies in need of 1B depth and another MLB-ready lefty bat.
Johnston’s raw power isn’t huge but he’s a high-contact bat who makes a lot of hard, elevated contact. Johnston fits the mold of McCarthy and Castro above in those regards and should fit well at Coors Field as a line drive hitter.
The Rockies only have one other no-brainer first base option in fellow waiver claim Blaine Crim. Sterlin Thompson–yet to make his MLB debut–could be in the mix, though his 1B experience is limited. Eventually, Charlie Condon should earn 1B time but he’s likely to start in the upper minors and force the issue.
As a result, expect Johnston to be penciled in to the strong side of a 1B platoon with Blaine Crim, although Johnston has always held his own against left-handed pitching in the minors. Johnston also has experience in the outfield, though his below average range may give the club pause and keep Johnston exclusively on the dirt.
The Rockies may very well add a veteran 1B option before Spring Training. If that’s the case, Johnston’s spot may be in jeopardy, though he’s a higher floor bat with skills that are being prioritized by DePodesta and crew.
Brennan Bernardino
Lefty specialist
The Rockies unexpectedly made a move at the tender deadline, outside of the routine 40-man roster additions, acquiring Bernardino to bolster the left-handed side of the bullpen.
An unflashy arm, peaking around 93 with his fastball, Bernardino is nothing if not reliable with a 3.47 career ERA across 169 career appearances, including a career best 3.14 ERA last season.
The peripherals dipped for Bernardino with his strikeout rate dropping down to 19.1% from 26.9% in 2023 and his walk rate spiking to 12%, though the addition of a changeup helped throw off right-handed hitters, while Bernardino’s sinker-curveball combo continued to dissect lefties.
However, Bernardino’s development as a contact manager cannot be overlooked. The 34-year-old’s groundball rate has steadily risen and his flyball, linedrive, and pulled contact rates all moved in the right direction this year to far better than average rates.
Bernardino’s low arm slot–a very low three-quarters slot–and quick mechanics help create deception and dominate left-handed bats. It also makes Bernardino reminiscent of recent Rockies success stories Brent Suter and Jimmy Herget.
Expect Bernardino to be a steady presence out of the pen, picking up the backend of an inning when a middle-of-the-order left-handed hitter is in the fold. With only Luis Peralta, Carson Palmquist–both shaky in 2025–and the untested Welinton Herrera in the mix as fellow lefties, Bernardino’s early season workload will be something to watch.
R.J. Petit
Mid-leverage reliever
The Rockies held the 1st pick in the Rule 5 Draft back at the Winter Meetings. Among a shortlist of projected candidates, the hulking 6-foot-8 Petit was an unsurprising selection. A 14th rounder of the Tigers back in 2021, Petit had a slow rise through the system, only reaching Triple-A for the first time in 2025 for a mere 20 games.
However, Petit’s performance is undeniable and steady with a 3.17 ERA since the start of 2023 including a stellar 27.6 K%, before peaking this past season. With a frame suitable for offensive tackle, Petit protected his team with a 78.9 LOB% and 2.44 ERA in 2025.
The key to this success was a pair of mid-90s fastballs–a 4-seamer that can touch 98 with plus extension, coming from a high slot. Petit’s sinker has potential to be an elite fastball, touching 97 with a super steep shape.
Despite having an effective pair of heaters, Petit’s slider is his primary pitch. It gears up to 87 with a -8.8 Vertical Approach Angle (measures steepness of the pitch). That’s a VAA you’d expect to see on a slower curveball, not a mid-80s slider. All in all, this arsenal makes Petit a unique look and a bat-missing groundball machine at times.
As a Rule 5 pick, it’s sink or swim for the Charleston Southern product, but he’s got all the ingredients to be a 7th or 8th inning arm in the future. Expect the Rockies to be cautious with Petit, operating him on a lighter workload. The talent is undeniable though and Petit figures to prove he can be relied on in tight situations.
Spring Training Around the Corner
The Rockies do not appear done adding to this roster. They’ve been rumored to be in on multiple first basemen, could add another infielder, and will likely add a pitcher before all is said and done. With Spring Training set to be underway in just about 2 weeks, there is incentive to start wrapping the roster up before Spring Training games start.
On the first base side, keep an eye on Nathaniel Lowe, though Ty France, Miguel Andujar, Rhys Hoskins (rumored to be close to a deal with the Nationals), and Paul Goldschmidt fit the bill. Luis Arraez is an option, but expect multiple contenders to pursue the 3-time batting champ’s services.
Other infielders that could be of interest include Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Ramón Urías, and Luis Rengifo as versatile defensive-minded plugs, should DePodesta and crew want more certainty at both 2B and 3B.
On the pitching side, options are wide open as the Rockies could add another starter and could want a veteran relievers–preferably of the southpaw variety.
Zack Littell remains one of the best arms available and a solid Coors Field fit, while Aaron Civale, Chris Paddack, and Tyler Anderson are other logical starters available.
On the bullpen side, a boatload of middle-tier veteran lefties remain on the board such as Andrew Chafin, Jalen Beeks, and Brent Suter along with several other similar quality arms.
Expect at least one more addition and possibly two or three to cap off the most eventful Rockies offseason in recent memory.
Written by Tyler Paddor.
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