It’s been 82 days since the Rockies 2025 season ended.
The 2026 season starts in 98 days.
Despite a near-complete overhaul of the front office and coaching staff, one thing still doesn’t look all that different: the Colorado Rockies roster.
Despite signing a handful of minor league contracts and making one minor league trade, the Rockies and Boston Red Sox remain the only MLB teams not to sign a free agent this year. Now that the pieces are in place in the front office, it’s time for the organization to get started on the roster. It would be nice to end the year with a few more new parts for 2026.
While signing a starter or backup who isn’t already past their first or second baseman would be a good investment, the Rockies also need more pitching depth. There are too many question marks surrounding the starting rotation (like Chase Dollander’s rough rookie season, Tanner Gordon’s small sample size, Ryan Feltner’s health and control issues, Carson Palmquist and McCade Brown’s shaky early starts, and Gabriel Hughes’ schedule).
While new general manager Josh Brynes has noted that the Rockies bullpen is a force, it could lose Jimmy Herget to a starting roleon top of losing Jake Bird and Tyler Kinley in trades last season. It also gives Antonio Senzatela, owner of the MLB’s highest ERA for pitchers who threw 130 or more innings (6.65) in 2025. With changes and growing pains on the horizon, the Rockies must keep the bullpen strong if they are to improve in 2026.
To do that, I think the Rockies still need to sign a starting pitcher like Zac Gallen, or even an old friend like Jon Gray or Tyler Anderson with proven success in Colorado, who might also be able to come cheap. Additionally, or if they don’t add starting depth and really move Herget into a starting pitching role — even though that would likely mean big bullpen days in his starting outings — the Rockies should also add more proven bullpen depth.
All of this makes me wonder if the Rockies should re-sign Tyler Kinley to come back and serve as the veteran leader in the bullpen.
Kinley was the seventh-best reliever by r-WAR (0.1) for Colorado last season. Kinley’s WAR was also No. 17 on the team. The Rockies already traded their fourth-best bullpen arm in Bird (No. 10 on Rockies at 0.5 WAR). They may be in better shape in 2026 with one of the two veterans back on the team.
Kinley played 49 games for the Rockies in 2025, posting a 5.66 ERA in 47 2/3 innings with eight holds, three saves and a 1-3 record before being traded to the Braves on July 30. Kinley next went out in Atlanta, posting a 0.74 ERA in 25 innings in 24 games with six holds. The Braves declined Kinley’s 2026 option, which would have paid him approximately $5.5 million, making him a free agent.
The 35-year-old RHP will likely sign for about the same annual salary on a two- or three-year contract. MLB.com lists Kinley as the 14th best remaining reliever free agent in 2025 FanGraphs WAR (0.8).
Unless Senzatela emerges in spring training as an effective pitcher who doesn’t give batting practice to opponents, the Rockies should be willing to cut him. It would mean eating up the $12 million the organization owes him for the final year of his five-year, $50 million deal, but it could be a chance for the new front office to prove it isn’t driven by the blind loyalty that Dick Monfort is known for. That would open up a spot for someone like Kinley, who could be much more effective.
Since Colorado claimed him off waivers in 2019 after he was cut by the Miami Marlins, Kinley posted a 5.05 ERA in six seasons in purple, going 11-13 with a 1.2 rWAR and 20 saves in 253 appearances (246 innings). Kinley’s slider is deadly if he breaks late and is a big reason for his average of 9.5 strikeouts per nine during his tenure in Colorado. Additionally, Kinley could be worth re-signing because of his leadership, the chemistry he brings and his relatively low price tag.
There’s a lot of interesting debate about who will end up on the 26-man roster in the bullpen to start 2026. It was even the topic of a Purple Row After Dark discussion on December 10. With only eight spots for relievers, there will be a lot of competition.
Should the Rockies throw a familiar face like Kinley back into the mix? Jalen Beeks, Pierce Johnson, Brent Suter and Connor Seabold are also free agents. Or should they continue to choose the young poor and build the future? Let us know in the comments.
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