Rockies continue rotation overhaul, add left-hander Jose Quintana

Injuries can and will happen, but at least the Rockies will start spring training with an experienced five-man rotation that could buy time and patience for their young minor-league arms.

Hours after agreeing with 36-year-old Tomoyuki Sugano on a one-year, $5.1-million contract, the Rockies added 37-year-old Jose Quintana, a veteran of 14 previous seasons who posted a solid 3.96 ERA while going 11-7 for the National League Central champion Milwaukee Brewers last season.

ESPN’s Jesse Rogers was first to report the move. The deal is pending a physical.

Quintana posted a 1.291 WHIP, a 3.96 ERA and a 4.81 FIP over 24 starts for the Brewers last season. He’s posted a sub-4.00 ERA in each of the last four campaigns; doing that again in 2026 would put him in position to be the Rockies’ No. 1 starter.

He has a 5.40 ERA and a 1.500 WHIP over six career starts at Coors Field.

ROCKIES LOOKING TO SHORT-TERM VETERANS TO BRIDGE GAP

Lorenzen is 34; Sugano is 36. So, along with Quintana, there are no illusions about what the Rockies are trying to do here: cobble together a rotation that can eat innings, deliver serviceable work, not be spooked by the vagaries of Coors Field and buy time to ensure the team isn’t forced to shove prospects into the major-league rotation before they’re ready.

Last year, the team had to give 16 starts to rookies McCade Brown and Carson Palmquist, who lumbered home with ERAs of 7.36 and 8.91, respectively. Bradley Blalock made 12 starts despite logging a staggering 9.36 ERA; the Rockies traded him to the Marlins last month.

With Quintana aboard, the Rockies’ potential rotation now includes Quintana, Sugano, Kyle Freeland, Ryan Feltner and Michael Lorenzen, who joined the club last month. Of that quintet, only Feltner is younger than 32; he turned 29 last September.

The door is open for a young pitcher to push for a spot, but now, it’s not a necessity.
The most viable candidate would be 2023 first-round pick Chase Dollander, who had a rookie season that was as flummoxing as it was promising, with mammoth road-home splits — a 3.46 road ERA contrasting with a 9.98 figure at Coors Field. He finished the season on the injured list due to a left-knee problem but is good to go for the start of spring training.

Pitchers and catchers report to Scottsdale, Ariz. on Thursday.

Related

Rockies to call up pitching prospect Mason Adams just weeks after deadline dealRockies lose ninth-straight at home, conclude 0-6 homestandLarry Walker statue unveiled at Coors FieldRockies fall to 0-5 in homestand, drop eighth-straight at Coors FieldRockies’ early lead vanishes as Guardians pull away for routFreeland leaves due to neck tightness as Rockies fall in extra innings