Rockies' potent offense can really fill up the stat sheet

As the 2017 fantasy baseball season approaches, we take a look at the biggest news and story lines from each club. We'll feature one team each weekday ... and we'll finish up on Feb. 15, the first day all teams will have their pitchers and catchers on the field for workouts.

The Colorado Rockies are always a difficult team to figure out. Are they retooling? Are they rebuilding? Are they ever going to find any pitching? All those questions still seem valid as the new season approaches and new manager Bud Black prepares to take over. One thing's certain, however, they can certainly hit. And fantasy owners always look forward to the 81 games they play in Coors Field.

2016 at a glance

Record: 75-87 (3rd in NL West)
Hitting: 2nd (5.22 R/G)
Pitching: 25th (4.91 ERA)

Arrivals

OF Ian Desmond

For the Rockies to sign a big-ticket free agent and then move him to a position he's never played before is a curious decision, to say the least. But that's what they've done with Desmond -- who rebounded last season with a .285 average, 22 homers and 21 stolen bases to go with a career-high 107 runs scored. The move would make more sense if the Rockies trade one of their starting outfielders, but that hasn't happened yet. As long as it doesn't, Desmond will add first base to his fantasy eligibility in the outfield.

Players to watch

3B Nolan Arenado
2B DJ LeMahieu
SS Trevor Story
OF Charlie Blackmon
OF Carlos Gonzalez

Mr. Consistency, Arenado led the National League with 41 homers and the majors with 133 RBI last season, just as he did in 2015 -- only with better plate discipline. He's a top-10, maybe even a top-5 player in drafts this year.

LeMahieu has an outstanding eye at the plate, one that helped him win the NL batting title with a .348 average.

Story was an early-season sensation with seven home runs in his first six major league games. His numbers were incredible (.272, 27 homers, 72 RBI), especially considering he didn't play after June 30 because of a torn ligament in his thumb. He should be fine for spring training.

After stealing 43 bases in 2015, Blackmon was slowed by a toe injury last season and only swiped 17. The rest of his game was fine though. He set career highs in batting average (.324), home runs (29), runs (111) and RBI (82).

The veteran Gonzalez is still going strong at age 31, but beware a drop in production if Colorado decides to trade him. His home/road splits have always been significant.

Sleepers

OF David Dahl
SP Jon Gray

Just getting a chance to hit in the Rockies' potent lineup is an invitation to succeed. Dahl, 22, took advantage of a midseason call-up and fit right in. He hit .315/.359/.500 in 222 at-bats -- and has the tools to be a 20-homer, 20-steal player. A .404 batting average on balls in play says tempers expectations of him hitting over .300 in his first full MLB season.

Gray will attempt to defy the history of Rockies pitchers being useless in fantasy. His 9.9 K/9 rate shows an ability to miss bats in bunches, as he did in a 16-strikeout blanking of the Padres in September (at Coors, even!). In fact, his 4.30 ERA and 1.12 WHIP at home were better than his numbers on the road. A 65% strand rate in 168 innings makes him a decent bet to improve on his 4.61 ERA.

Bullpen

Closer: Adam Ottavino
Next: Jake McGee

Coming back in July from elbow surgery, Ottavino finished 2016 as the Rockies closer with seven saves in 11 chances. His overall numbers were excellent -- a 2.67 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 27 innings -- so expect him to continue to get the call in the ninth.

McGee lost the closer's job in June. Despite converting 15 of 18 save chances, he had a 6.30 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in those situations. As a lefty, he could still be used to get the final outs if the matchups dictate.

Position battles

The only spot in the everyday lineup that is up for grabs is at catcher, where lefty-swinging Tony Wolters and right-handed Tom Murphy are the front-runners. Wolters got more playing time last year, but he lacks Murphy's power.

Prospects

SP Jeff Hoffman 
SS Brendan Rodgers

Hoffman, the ninth overall pick in the 2014 draft, reached the majors last year at age 23, but went 0-4 with a 4.88 ERA. He could win a rotation spot in spring training or be sent to the minors for more seasoning.

Rodgers, 20, is the jewel of the Rockies farm system after being taken third overall in 2015. He hit 19 homers last year at Low Class A with a .281/.342/.480 slash line. Story's presence at short makes Rodgers' future in the majors a little cloudy, similar to the situation 3B prospect Ryan McMahon is facing.

Projected batting order

1. CF Charlie Blackmon
2. 2B DJ LeMahieu
3. 3B Nolan Arenado
4. RF Carlos Gonzalez
5. 1B Ian Desmond
6. LF David Dahl
7. SS Trevor Story
8. C Tony Wolters*

* Platoon with Tom Murphy

Projected rotation

1. RHP Jon Gray
2. RHP Tyler Chatwood
3. RHP Chad Bettis
4. LHP Ryan Anderson
5. RHP Jeff Hoffman/RHP Eddie Butler