The Major League Baseball offseason is in full swing after the Milwaukee Brewers recently won their first World Series in franchise history. 

Another franchise looking for its first title is the Colorado Rockies, but they are currently not close to being a World Series-winning team. The Rockies have been in the basement of MLB for several years now, but the 2026 season reflected a bit of improvement and a reason for fans to start becoming hopeful about the future.

However, Colorado has a lot it needs to improve, and a critical layer of this offseason concerns an impending lockout unless a new Collective Bargaining Agreement can be reached by Dec. 1. 

Owners in MLB are attempting to propose a salary cap and a payroll floor, but the Major League Baseball Players Association opposes it. The proposed salary floor for a new CBA is $171.2 million. 

Currently, Colorado is 25th out of 30 MLB teams in total payroll at $98.5 million. This means that if a new CBA were passed with that salary floor implemented, the Rockies would have to increase spending dramatically. 

The good news is that this could help Colorado become more competitive, and it needs to overhaul its pitching staff more than anything. 

It probably would not be smart for the Rockies to put all their eggs in one basket and go get an ultra-expensive superstar arm. There are other great options out there, and one is veteran right-hander Nick Martinez. 

Martinez, 36, is coming off a one-year stint with the Tampa Bay Rays that was the best of his pro career. 

Martinez made 31 starts during the regular season and posted a 15-6 record with a 3.10 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP in 180 innings of work. He was good in the playoffs too, where he logged a 1-1 record with a 2.81 ERA over four games (three starts) and 16 innings pitched. 

Martinez's efforts helped the Rays win the American League pennant, but after Tampa Bay lost the World Series to the Brewers, the team chose to decline the mutual option for Martinez. Given Martinez's strong season, his price tag will certainly go up from the one-year, $13 million contract he signed with the Rays ahead of the 2026 season. 

The Rockies' current financial picture probably makes Martinez too expensive of a signing to pull off. But if they are forced to increase their payroll, he could become a viable option. 

The current veterans that Colorado has are not good enough to continue to stay on the mound for this team. Martinez would bring an All-Star veteran presence that would positively impact young pitchers on the roster who are trying to find their footing, such as Gabriel Hughes. 

Additionally, given Martinez's age, perhaps a shorter-term deal can get worked out, which could also be beneficial for the Rockies. Overall, it seems that Martinez could be a good fit for a team trying to turn the corner.