Eli Whitney | January 30, 2026 | @eliwhtney10
Image: rockies.com
The Colorado Rockies are actively reshaping their roster through a series of moves, with a clear emphasis on adding left-handed bats and defensive versatility. During a recent Zoom press conference, President of Baseball Operations Paul DePodesta addressed the team’s latest additions—including infielder Edouard Julien, switch-hitting utility man Willi Castro, first baseman T.J. Rumfield, and right-handed pitcher Pierson Ohl —while outlining the organization’s broader vision for building a more balanced and competitive roster.
DePodesta highlighted the intrigue surrounding Julien’s bat and defensive versatility. While inconsistent playing time in recent seasons has limited his production, Julien has already demonstrated an ability to hit at the major league level. During his rookie season in 2023, he posted an .840 OPS with 16 home runs across 109 games.
He also emphasized Julien’s ability to play both first and second base, providing added infield flexibility.
“We like that left-handed bat against right-handed pitching,” DePodesta said, adding that Julien could fit in multiple ways alongside the team’s other recent left-handed additions.
The push for left-handed bats addresses a clear weakness from the 2025 season. DePodesta acknowledged that the Rockies’ lineup had been heavily right-handed, limiting their options against right-handed pitching. As a result, the offseason focus included adding “a few more weapons from the left side,” with players such as Jake McCarthy and Castro complementing Julien.
Regarding the influx of left-handed additions, DePodesta emphasized, “We just want the best players, but these guys all sort of fit for us.”
A key theme throughout the discussion was versatility and healthy competition. The acquisitions create a more fluid roster capable of adapting to injuries, performance fluctuations, and in-season adjustments. DePodesta explained that players who can handle multiple positions add important depth and flexibility, noting,
“We may not be done adding, but we did want to make sure we had healthy competition at a handful of spots and different ways to put the puzzle together.”
DePodesta specifically addressed the trade for T.J. Rumfield, a more traditional first baseman acquired from the New York Yankees in exchange for reliever Angel Chivilli . The move was not intended to preclude further additions at first base, but rather to strengthen competition at the position. Rumfield is viewed as a solid defender with strong bat-to-ball skills, emerging power, and the ability to hit for average, as evidenced by his .285 mark at Triple-A in 2025.
DePodesta also addressed some of the more difficult roster decisions, including designating Yanquiel Fernandez for assignment to clear space on the 40-man roster. While acknowledging Fernandez’s power and major league experience, he noted that the move reflected the organization’s growing depth of left-handed-hitting outfielders, with prospects such as Sterlin Thompson still awaiting an opportunity.
When examining the common threads among the recent acquisitions, DePodesta described a mix of complementary skills rather than a single player archetype. The goal is to build a team that collectively gets on base more often, chases fewer pitches, adds power, and uses baserunning as an additional weapon. “It’s really hard to get all of those attributes in a single player,” he said, “but each of the players we’ve acquired has pieces of that.”
McCarthy and Castro fit a pattern of players who showed strong performance earlier in their careers but have faced reduced roles or challenges recently. DePodesta expressed confidence in their ability to recapture that potential, citing their consistent underlying fundamentals and the difficulties of performing as non-everyday players.
“Life as a non-everyday player in the big leagues is really, really hard… both emotionally and physically,” he observed, suggesting that more regular opportunities in Colorado could help them thrive—or even surpass their previous peaks.
With an eye toward the future, DePodesta emphasized building a core of young, controllable talent. Julien (with just over two years of service), Rumfield (not yet on the 40-man roster), and pitcher Pierson Ohl (acquired alongside Julien from the Twins in exchange for minor leaguer Jace Kaminska) offer long-term upside, with the potential to contribute well beyond 2026 if their development continues.
DePodesta stressed that player development “never stops,” even at the major league level. A recent organizational summit in Denver reinforced this commitment, with manager Warren Schaeffer and his staff emphasizing the connection between major league growth and minor league foundations. Young prospects like Charlie Condon remain central to the vision, and DePodesta dismissed concerns about overcrowding talent, noting that, as in his time in Oakland, adding good players is always a positive.
On the pitching side, DePodesta noted the bullpen’s depth has allowed the team to trade from strength—such as moving Chivilli—to acquire position players. The Rockies continue to seek starting pitching through trades, waiver claims, and free agency to round out the rotation. Regarding new addition, Pierson Ohl, DePodesta said,
“I think he could do a little bit of both. He’s also started in the minor leagues, and his mix is a little different depending on whether he’s starting or relieving, but he’s a very, very good strike thrower. He has some pitches in his arsenal to keep hitters off balance—principally the changeup—but also a feel for a handful of other pitches. Philosophically, he fits with us really well and could pitch in a multitude of roles.”
Overall, DePodesta’s approach signals a methodical rebuild, prioritizing balance, adaptability, and sustained development to transform the Rockies from a team hampered by roster imbalances into one with greater depth and upside for both the present and future.
Written by Eli Whitney.
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