Bolstered by the acquisition of three veteran free agents — right-hander Michael Lorenzen and Tomoyuki Sugano, and lefty Jose Quintana — the Rockies open spring training on Thursday at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Ariz., with plenty of competition for the starting rotation. Here are the candidates:

• LHP Kyle Freeland: The longest-tenured Rockies player and Denver native is intent on turning things around. He’s been a workhorse for the only franchise he’s ever known, with eight seasons of 20 or more starts and 100 more innings pitched. He’s in the final year of his contract, though there is a vested option for the 2027 season if he reaches 170 innings pitched. 2025: 5-17, 4.98 ERA in 31 starts.

• RHP Ryan Feltner: He’s attempting to come back from an injury-marred 2025 season that limited him to six big-league starts early in the season. He was placed on the Triple-A injured list on July 30 and missed the rest of the season. Feltner, who had an excellent second half in 2024, must prove he can stay healthy and pitch with consistency. 2025: 0-2, 4.75 ERA in six starts.

• RHP Michael Lorenzen: Signed to a one-year, $8 million deal for 2026 with a $9 million option in 2027. The journeyman was excellent for the Royals down the stretch in 2024 after being traded from Texas, appearing in seven games (six starts) and posting a 1.57 ERA in 28 2/3 innings. He didn’t pitch as well last season for Kansas City and allowed a career-worst 25 home runs. 2025: 7-11, 4.64 ERA in 27 games (26 starts).

• RHP Tomoyuki Sugano: Pitched last season for the Orioles after 12 seasons as the ace of Japan’s Yomiuri Giants. He’s 36, but the Rockies like his leadership skills, desire to tackle Coors Field, and wide array of pitchers. 2025: 10-10, 4.64 ERA in 30 starts.

• LHP Jose Quintana: The 37-year-old veteran gives the Rockies a second lefty they needed. The Rockies and Quintana have agreed to a one-year, $6 million deal. Last season, he provided the playoff-bound Brewers some quality and stability at the back of their rotation. Through his first 14 seasons in the big leagues, he has 113 victories, the most for a native of Colombia. 2025: 11-7, 3.96 in 24 starts.

• RHP Chase Dollander: His rookie season had a split personality. In 11 starts at Coors Field, Dollander went 2-6 with a 9.98 ERA over 11 starts, with opponents hitting .337 against him. On the road, the hard-throwing right-hander had a 3.46 ERA across 10 starts. The Rockies hope some mechanical tweaks made during the offseason will lead to consistency for their 2023 first-round draft choice. 2025: 2-12, 6.52 ERA in 21 starts.

• RHP Tanner Gordon: Gordon improved with almost every start during the second half of last season. It was a big improvement from 2024 when Gordon went 0-6 in eight starts with an 8.65 ERA. Last season, Gordon was called up from Triple-A on May 23 and delivered one of the best starts by a Rockies pitcher all season — striking out five Yankees and holding New York to two runs on five hits in six innings in Colorado’s 3-2 victory. 2025: 6-8, 6.33 in 15 starts.

• RHP McCade Brown: In his first season in the majors, the third-round pick out of Indiana University in 2021, Brown suffered significant growing pains. He lost each of his first seven starts and had an 11.17 ERA in three starts at Coors Field. He’ll likely begin the season at Triple-A.  2025: 0-5, 7.36 ERA in seven starts.

Other rotation contenders who will get a long look during camp: RHP Pierson Ohl, non-roster RHP Vallente Belloz, LHP Sean Sullivan (No. 12 prospect), and RHP Gabriel Hughes (No. 14 prospect).

— Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post

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