Rockies Mailbag: Is Elias Diaz the answer at catcher? Will Rox land free-agent bat?

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

Pose a Rockies — oregon MLB — related question for the Rockies Mailbag.

 Who are the Rockies’ prospects astatine the catcher position, minors oregon escaped agency? Elias Diaz has popular but fewer RBIs, Dom Nunez is being outhit by a fewer pitchers. I spot promising players successful the infield, outfield and pitcher, but not astatine catcher. FanGraphs has the Rockies ranked 30th. There was a bully catcher successful the draft, but the Rockies went with an outfielder (Benny Montgomery) who strikes retired a lot. Where bash they crook for a existent catcher? Thank You.
— Robert, Limon

Robert, judge it oregon not, Diaz conscionable mightiness beryllium the Rockies’ reply astatine catcher for the contiguous and future. I wrote astir that past week during Diaz’s powerfulness surge. Manager Bud Black, so the full organization, is precise precocious connected Diaz close now. He’s truly turned his play around. He’s slashing .291/.362/.612 with 7 doubles, 13 location runs and 25 RBIs since June 1. Before that, helium slashed 125/.193/.188 done the extremity of May.

Diaz, however, similar a batch of Rockies hitters, has struggled distant from Coors Field. He’s hitting conscionable .186 connected the road, though helium does person six homers. Nonetheless, I deliberation Diaz has a accidental to beryllium truly good.

As acold arsenic prospects go, Drew Romo, who was drafted retired of precocious schoolhouse past play with the 35th wide prime (supplemental archetypal round) is the semipermanent hope. But Romo is presently playing astatine Low-A Fresno, truthful he’s a agelong mode from being big-league ready. He’s presently hitting .318 with 5 homers and a .813 OPS successful 54 games.

Hi Patrick, the Rockies person astir apt their champion starting rotation successful franchise past — arsenic agelong arsenic they enactment healthy. German Marquez, Jon Gray, Austin Gomber, Antonio Senzatela and Kyle Freeland are beardown capable to pb this squad into the playoffs, if they get help.

But there’s zero bullpen assistance and this harvest of Rockies hitters is the weakest I’ve ever seen. What moves tin they marque successful the offseason to springiness this squad a changeable astatine making the postseason?

— Miles, Parker

Miles, I hold with your cardinal thesis, though I wouldn’t accidental determination is “zero” bullpen help, and the Rockies’ discourtesy has travel to beingness implicit the past month.

Still, let’s not kid ourselves, this discourtesy needs help. And I’m funny to spot however the Rockies deed astatine Houston and San Francisco aft knocking the screen disconnected the ball during the caller homestand.

The Rockies should commencement by seeing if they tin re-sign archetypal baseman C.J. Cron, who’s scheduled to go a escaped agent. There is communal involvement connected some sides but overmuch depends connected the marketplace and however large a wage Cron tin command.

I hold with you that the Rockies should marque a bold determination portion this rotation is successful place, and with Trevor Story leaving, determination are holes to beryllium filled. Would the Rockies instrumentality a look astatine the Dodgers’ Corey Seager? Can they spend him? Probably not. The aforesaid goes for outfielder Kyle Schwarber, who was traded to the Red Sox, who are trying to person him into a archetypal baseman. He would beryllium a bully acceptable successful Colorado, but wealth volition beryllium the issue. Same with designated hitter J.D. Martinez.

As for the “under-performing bats” Corey Dickerson comes to mind, truthful does the Padres’ Tommy Pham. But truthfully, astatine this signifier of the season, it’s hard to find the upcoming free-agent market.

Huge Rockies fan, and bask speechmaking your articles. Where bash you spot Ryan McMahon’s aboriginal position? I’ve heard him accidental helium prefers second, and it seems similar we person amended third-base basal prospects, and of people B-rod (Brendan Rodgers) astatine shortstop. Your thoughts?
— Norm, Albuquerque

Norm, McMahon tin play either 3rd oregon second, arsenic you note. (He tin besides play archetypal basal if request be). He’s having a terrific season, particularly successful the field. Manager Bud Black said “RyMac” deserves Gold Glove information astatine either 3rd oregon second.

I deliberation the Rockies are astatine their best, close present and successful the future, playing McMahon astatine third. Rodgers has had fewer antiaircraft lapses astatine second, but he’s improving there. The large question is this: Is Rodgers amended astatine 2nd oregon short, which is his earthy position? The Rockies are debating that arsenic this play plays out.