Moving on is a hard thing to do, but t’s also a necessary part of any baseball organization. Players leave, whether through trade, free agency, or even being released.
It’s something the Colorado Rockies have generally struggled to do in recent memory. However, the tides appear to be turning in the midst of a franchise-worst season. The Rockies may not be able to capture the title of worst record in a 162-game season from the 2024 Chicago White Sox, but they are still mired in a historically awful
year that has now forced some gears to turn.
Franchise third baseman Ryan McMahon was traded to the New York Yankees. Long-time manager Bud Black was fired, along with his bench coach Mike Redmond and hitting coach Hensley Meulens. Multiple other players have left the organization throughout the season as well.
The Rockies’ work is not done. For better or for worse, there are more people the team will need to say goodbye to in order to move forward.
Germán Márquez
A few weeks ago I discussed the questions swirling around longtime Rockies starting pitcher Germán Márquez. He was fresh off a difficult outing following his return to the active roster after being shelved due to right biceps tendinitis.
Before his stint on the injured list, Márquez was looking much like his former self. His 3.55 ERA over 11 starts and 58 1/3 innings of work had done much to wash the bitter taste from his early season woes out of our collective mouths. On the final year of his contract and a pending free agent, Márquez was a prime trade candidate before the injury sidelined him through the deadline.
Márquez could have been a candidate to return next season on a team friendly deal in 2026, especially with the many question marks swirling around the Rockies’ starting rotation. However, after his last four starts and with only 12 games left in the regular season, it would seem moving on might be best for both parties.
Since returning from the injured list, Márquez has a 12.42 ERA over 16 2/3 innings of work. He’s struck out just four batters, walked nine, and given up six home runs. Even his FIP is an unsightly 8.97 over four starts.
In his most recent start as part of a miserable series in San Diego, Márquez lasted just 2 1/3 innings while giving up seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and two walks. For the second time in his career as a starter—the first being just a few weeks ago—he failed to tally a single strikeout.
Germán Márquez is a beloved member of Rockies history, and one of the better starting pitchers this organization has had in it’s 33-year history. Unfortunately, it would appear that a change of scenery would likely benefit both him and the Rockies moving forward.
Mickey Moniak or Tyler Freeman
Both new comers to the Rockies in 2025, Mickey Moniak and Tyler Freeman have been bright spots at the plate during an incredibly dismal season.
Freeman—obtained via trade for Nolan Jones prior to the season—has morphed into a consistent leadoff hitter for the Rockies with the departure of Charlie Blackmon. Freeman has a .266 batting average and a .332 on-base percentage batting at the top of the order in 69 games this season. He also strikes out far less than his teammates. Freeman has struck out multiple times in just nine of his 105 appearances this season and has struck out more than twice just once.
Moniak—a former first-overall pick brought in via free agency just before the season started—has been filling more of a power bat and utility outfielder role. Playing all three outfield positions, Moniak has hit .268/.306/.509 this season with career highs in triples, home runs, stolen bases, RBIs, and walks (and he’s very close to a career high in doubles). Moniak has been working to shed his “bust” status with the Rockies after being cut by both the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Angels.
So why move on?
While both Freeman and Moniak have been a lot of fun this year, and are even both under team control for another few seasons, they aren’t foundational pieces to build around. I would consider them supplements to an actual core, which the Rockies don’t really have yet.
Both Freeman and Moniak are liabilities in the outfield with staggering negative defensive metrics that completely wipe out their positive impacts as hitters if you look at wins above replacement on Baseball Reference.
Individually the two have their own faults. Freeman may not strike out, but he doesn’t draw many walks and lacks power in his bat. Moniak, meanwhile, strikes out fairly often and has some fairly severe home and road splits.
The Rockies would do fine keeping one of the two. Both can contribute during a rebuild and are well-liked by their teammates. However, the team doesn’t need both of them and should trade one while their value is high this off-season to restock a farm system in need of reinforcements.
Bill Schmidt
If there is anyone other than owner Dick Monfort who could be viewed as the architect of the Rockies’ current misery, it’s general manager Bill Schmidt.
It wasn’t always this way. In 2021, Schmidt replaced an embattled Jeff Bridich at the then-lowest point in team history following the contentious trade of Nolan Arenado. There were a few early stumbling blocks with the departures of Jon Gray and Trevor Story, but there was some hope that the respected scout and longtime head of the team’s scouting department would provide stability and help the Rockies back to better times.
Unfortunately, Schmidt’s tenure has coincided with the now-lowest point in Rockies history. It has been marked by poor free agent decisions, none worse than the seven-year, $182 million deal that brought Kris Bryant to Denver. Bryant has produced a total of -1.6 wins above replacement on the rare occasion he was on the field. Now dealing with a degenerative back condition, it’s unlikely he will ever appear on the field again. The contract extensions he handed out—such as Kyle Freeland, Antonio Senzatela, and Ryan McMahon—have all aged poorly, and the “draft and develop” organization has largely failed to do just that under his watch.
At .355, the Rockies have the worst winning percentage under Schmidt than they have under any general manager in the team’s history. While all of the team’s woes may not rest squarely on his shoulders, he is the face of a front office that has seen the team devolve into one of the worst in Major League Baseball.
Moving on from Schmidt—and making other seismic changes to the Rockies’ front office—should arguably the highest priority for the Rockies once the season ends. Thankfully, some members of the Rockies media, such as Denver Post beat writer Patrick Saunders, believe change is imminent.
Even if the Rockies fire of reassign Schmidt, there will be much more moving on to be done as the team struggles to claw it’s way back to relevance.
Final Thoughts
Of course there are certainly others the Rockies will need to move on from as well. These four—no matter how they leave—are merely a starting point.
The Rockies need to re-evaluate their entire franchise from top to bottom, and making difficult decisions like these would demonstrate a willingness by the organization to move forward. If they are unwilling to do so, the future in Colorado will be quite dim indeed.
Who do you think the Rockies should move on from? How and why? Let us know in the comments.
On the Farm
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes vs Reno Aces
The Isotopes (59-84) head into their final series of the 2025 season as the rest of the Rockies farm system has completed theirs. They will host the Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks) at home for six games as they hope to avoid the 90-loss mark for the second consecutive season.
Moniak (2 HRs, 5 RBIs) came to Rox with something to prove—and has he ever | MLB.com
After being cast off by the Phillies and Angels, former first overall pick Mickey Moniak was signed this off-season by the Colorado Rockies. He’s since put together a career season for himself in purple, including a career game against the San Diego Padres. Moniak hit two home runs, had 5 RBIs, and was the first player in Rockies history to have four hits, two home runs, and two stolen bases in a game.
Romo solves throwing issue, puts on gear for Rox | MLB.com
When catcher Drew Romo made his debut last season, something on the minds of many baseball pundits was his awkward, looping throwing motion back to the pitcher. Since then, Romo has been working to correct his throw. Romo discussed how the problem originated, what he’s done to solve it, and the work he’s put in this year at Triple-A Albuquerque to get back to the show.
Freeland named Rockies’ Clemente Award nominee | MLB.com
Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland is once again the team’s nominee for the annual Roberto Clemente Award. Freeland puts extensive effort and resources into working with Special Olympics Colorado, as well as supporting youth baseball in his home state.
Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!
