Three potential offseason targets for the Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies thought they'd see progress following a 2022 season in which the club lost 94 games, but 2023 has proven to be more of the same. Once again they'll be heading into the offseason looking for ways to improve. 

Frankie Montas, RHP, New York Yankees 

Gauging what kind of market Montas is going to find this offseason is tricky. The right-hander looked like one of the league's best starters in 2021, posting a 3.37 ERA over 187 innings of work en route to a sixth-place finish in Cy Young voting. The results weren't quite there the following season but Montas was still viewed by many as the second-best arm available at the trade deadline and the Yankees parted with a quartet of prospects to acquire him. The move has been a disaster for New York. Injuries have limited Montas to just 39.2 innings and he's been hammered by opposing hitters. 

Colorado, too, has seen injuries crush their pitching staff this season. Taking a flyer on another guy coming back from injury may not be the most traditional route to improvement but it's likely what the Rockies are looking at with a front office that isn't prone to spend big. Montas is going to be looking to prove himself once again. 

Alex Reyes, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Another guy rebounding from injury, but Reyes's situation is a bit murkier. He hasn't thrown a pitch in a game in either of the last two seasons, first missing 2022 to shoulder surgery before ultimately needing to undergo a repeat procedure in June. Signing him at this point is entirely a wildcard but it's a gamble that could be worth taking for the Rockies. 

When healthy, Reyes showed he could dominate. Between the 2020 and 2021 seasons he saved 30 games for the Cardinals while posting a 3.23 ERA and striking out 122 batters in 92 innings with a fastball that regularly sat in the upper 90s. The Rockies bullpen lacks options with experience pitching higher leverage innings which could make the opportunity one that appeals to Reyes. 

Esteury Ruiz, CF, Oakland A's

There's no indication the A's are looking to move Ruiz, who is just finishing his rookie season in Oakland, but that doesn't mean he couldn't be pried away for the right price. Whether the Rockies will part with the prospects needed to make a deal happen is another question. This front office isn't known for aggressive moves. 

Patrolling the spacious outfield at Coors Field takes energy and quick instincts. Ruiz has shown he has speed, his 56 stolen bases lead the American League by a wide margin and trail only Ronald Acuña Jr for the MLB lead. The rest of his offensive game, however, needs work. Ruiz has hit .249/.304/.334 on the year. A contact-hitter instead of a power threat, he could bring the Rockies lineup a new weapon if the club can make the move to acquire him.