Despite the absence of any blockbuster offseason trades, the Colorado Rockies appear confident their young team has grown up enough to compete in the National League West.
The Rockies open Cactus League spring training play Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox with a display of enthusiasm and hope, despite five straight losing seasons.
"I believe there is too much talent here to dream small," manager Clint Hurdle said Tuesday.
"Every year we have gone in with optimism and a lot of hope attached to it. I think this year there is still hope and more substance."
Colorado's front office made several deals to improve depth but left the projected starting lineup largely intact.
Except for first baseman Todd Helton, the lineup is made up of players with three years of experience or less.
The Rockies did add some pieces, with the late acquisition of Josh Fogg from Pittsburgh to battle for the fifth starting job. But bullpen and catching help, not additional hitters, were the obvious emphasis.
Despite going 67-95 and finishing last in the West Division, the Rockies played better down the stretch, winning 17 of their last 31 road games. It was enough to keep Colorado from making wholesale alterations.
"Every team that added something is hoping that something pops," Hurdle said. "Their situation is not more removed than ours. We are moving forward with men that showed some value and took positive steps for us."
Colorado signed right-hander Jose Mesa, who brings experience and 319 career saves to a young staff, as well as left-handed reliever Ray King in a trade with St. Louis.
Another addition was left-hander Jaime Cerda.
Catcher Yorvit Torrealba, picked up in a trade with Seattle, gives Colorado a second potential starting catcher along with Danny Ardoin.
"The (improvement) starts with the bullpen," Hurdle said. "That is a pretty good group for us, one of the better groups we have had. And at catcher we have depth there where before it was a fragile position for us."