Rockies Mailbag: Did Colorado whiff at trade deadline? What’s happened to Zac Veen?

Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders with the latest installment of his Rockies Mailbag.

Pose a Rockies- or MLB-related question for the Rockies Mailbag.

We received several questions about Colorado’s inaction at the trade deadline. Here are a couple that sum up what some fans are feeling and asking.

Another deadline has passed while we sit and watch the Rockies do nothing to better themselves. No free agents were signed over the winter, no trades of significance were made last week, does the front office not understand baseball or do they truly believe the next World Series team is currently warming up down in Albuquerque? Why weren’t Elias Diaz, Cal Quantrill, Brendan Rodgers or Austin Gomber shipped elsewhere for future assets?

— Rob Van Winkle, Castle Pines

Hey Patrick, a lot of fans felt the trade deadline was a swing-and-miss for the Rockies by not being able to unload some veterans who won’t be part of the future going forward. On that note, when can we expect to see some more of the youth movement? I would like to see guys such as Drew Romo make their debut as well as Jordan Beck, Adael Amador and Greg Jones return to get more big-league exposure

— Jason, Tulare, Calif.

Rob and Jason, I know a lot of fans think the Rockies whiffed at the trade deadline. I get it. It’s hard to see where this team is headed, although general manager Bill Schmidt continues to express confidence that the team will turn the corner, perhaps as soon as 2025.

As I wrote in my Sunday journal, “color me skeptical.”

However, the Rockies didn’t whiff at the deadline. Diaz could have been traded but his calf injury derailed that idea.

From what I have been told, there wasn’t a lot of interest in Quantrill or Gomber. Since they both have another year remaining on their contracts, it would have been silly just to give them away at the deadline. The same goes for Rodgers.

But as I wrote in my journal, “… Next season is critical and why general manager Bill Schmidt needs to make some aggressive, savvy moves — beginning this offseason.” That could very well include trading Rodgers, Quantrill or Gomber.

Having said that, I agree with Jason. The Rockies need to play their prospects a lot over the final eight weeks of the season. Beck, who just had a four-hit night at Triple-A Albuquerque, will return to the Rockies soon. I hope he starts as often as possible. I fully expect Romo to make his big-league debut behind the plate, and Amador will also return to the majors after getting himself straightened out at the plate. The Rockies also need to see if Nolan Jones can rebound from his rough season.

Manager Bud Black has told me that he plans to give young players plenty of playing time. But Black also wants to win. So it’s a bit of a Catch-22. We’ll see how it plays out.

Hi Patrick. I don’t understand why Charlie Condon isn’t playing yet in games and developing his skill as a professional player. It’s been nearly two weeks since he’s signed. Can you provide any intel? Thank you.

— Patrick Schurott, Parker

Patrick, Condon beat you to the punch.

He made his pro debut on Tuesday night with High-A Spokane against the Tri-City Dust Devils.

Here’s what the Spokane Spokesman-Review reported:

“Condon went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in his debut.

“It’s good to get out here, get my feet wet, you know, get to know the guys,” he said. “I’m playing with a good group of guys and looking forward to making a good postseason run with this group. They’ve been doing a lot of things right this year, and I’m excited to be part of it.”

“It’s something new for him,” manager Robinson Cancel said before the game. “Hopefully, he’ll start out on the right foot. You know, it’s a little transition between college and pro ball. The tools are there, so hopefully, he’ll get locked in right away.

“He’s a good spirit, excited about it, and I think he’ll fit right in this clubhouse.”

Hey Patrick, what’s going on with Zac Veen? I thought this was supposed to be his breakout year.

— George, Westminster

George, I thought Veen would debut this season and make his mark. He started off the season red-hot at Double-A Hartford but injuries have once again derailed his season, and he’s been limited to just 44 games. He’s now dealing with a thumb injury after battling a lower back strain.

Rockies farm director Chris Forbes told me Wednesday that Veen is currently rehabbing at the team’s facility in Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Ariz. There is no timetable for Veen’s return.

Patrick, I love your incisive Rockies coverage. It’s worth the cost of a subscription on its own!

What are your thoughts on the Rox rotation for next season? Who’ll be back? Any interesting free agents the Rockies should consider? Which Rookies might make the rotation out of spring training? Debuts during the season? Same question for the bullpen.

Keep up the good work!

— Paul T., long-suffering Rockies and Cubs fan, Lakewood

Paul, thank you for your kind words and for your readership. It’s not easy being a Rockies fan — or a beat writer — these days.

The rotation is in a state of flux but it shows promise. As I wrote recently:

“The future rotation has potential and has a chance to remind us of the stellar 2017-18 crew. (Kyle) Freeland is returning to form. (German) Marquez, presumably, will come back strong from Tommy John surgery. The same goes for (Antonio) Senzatela.

“Cal Quantrill (if he’s not traded in the offseason) and Gomber (ditto) are capable of solid innings, and righty Ryan Feltner, though a work in progress, has the raw stuff to be a force. Lefty Carson Palmquist and right-handers Chase Dollander and Gabriel Hughes are prospects with promising futures.”

The bullpen will likely be overhauled during the offseason. The Rockies will likely try to acquire a couple of veteran relievers to shore it up. Because pitchers are reluctant to come to Colorado, quality relievers might have to be acquired via a trade.

It seems like the complete non-performance by Nolan Jones, Elehuris Montero and Sean Bouchard has set the Rockies’ rebuild back a year. Is Nolan Jones the next Trevor Story, who just had a bad sophomore slump or the next one-year wonder like Tyler Colvin?

— Isaac P. Bowen, Fort Collins

Issac, first of all, the Rockies have several talented outfield prospects, so I don’t worry much about Montero and Bouchard’s subpar performances.

Jones is another matter. He has a ton of talent and it would be a shame if he becomes a “one-year wonder.” As I wrote last week, Jones is struggling with the mental and physical side of the game. And scouts have told me that Jones is revealing the holes in his swing that convinced the Guardians to trade him to Colorado.

The bottom line is that it’s way too early to give up on Jones, but he has to get healthy.

Hi Patrick, I was disappointed to learn in your recent article about the Rockies’ seeming indifference about extending Cal Quantrill. For all the head-scratching about how to find starters who can succeed at Coors, as you point out, he’s proven he can do so. He has the cerebral approach Bud Black praised, competitive fire (the Rockies are sorely in need of players with swagger), and most importantly — consistency. As talented as German Marquez, Kyle Freeland and Austin Gomber may be, they are mercurial, and you never know what you’re getting out of any given start. Since an exciting team is a couple of years away, and you never know which young pitchers will pan out, what is their logic in not being more excited about Quantrill as a stabilizing presence as the young bucks come up? You said the Rockies would balk at three years? He’s 29. I say give him four.

— John, Los Angeles

John, I kind of, sort of, agree with you. There’s a lot to like about Quantrill.

But there are several major issues at play here. First, Quantrill has been roughed up lately, so he has a mercurial side, too. Second, Quantrill wants to play for a contender and I’m not sure if he wants to stay in Colorado beyond 2025. Third, he might want more money than the Rockies will give him. Finally, the Rockies believe their pitching prospects are ready to bloom.

Hey Patrick, seems like more players on the Rockies and across the league are using quality ash bats again. Can you give some insight into why players are making the change?

— Rip, Aurora

Rip, I posed your question to several Rockies, including Brendan Rodgers, Ryan McMahon and Jake Cave. They didn’t agree that more players are using ash bats instead of maple or birch bats.

McMahon told me that he’d tried ash bats but prefers maple, but acknowledged that some players like the lighter feel and speed of ash bats.

“There is more flex to ash bats and the ball goes further, kind of a trampoline effect,” McMahon said.

Rodgers, who has switched from maple to ash bats, told me: “When I was kind of struggling earlier, the rep for Rawlings told me they were making bats again and that their wood was quality. He said, ‘And we’re making ash bats.’

“I was like, ‘Cool. I’ll try it.’ It’s a good, hard, wood. They break a little bit, but it does feel a little lighter.”

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