New year thoughts: Helton, Blackmon and Rockies’ hot stove

DENVER — The Rockies haven’t made a major splash since last spring’s signing of Kris Bryant and contract extensions to Kyle Freeland and Ryan McMahon. And they are acknowledging with increasing frequency that this winter is as much about protecting the future as bolstering the current roster.

So I’m heading into 2023 thinking more about perspective than the next big news item — even though the Rockies need to make some news, because left-handed hitting and pitching in general must be bolstered.

Three things I’m thinking …

1. Will Todd Helton get his Hall of Fame moment?

A few days before Christmas, Helton, in his fifth year of Hall of Fame eligibility, was on as high as 80 percent of the less than 40 known ballots. Follow Ryan Thibodaux’s ballot tracker spreadsheet, which is updated each time a voter’s choice is revealed publicly or anonymously.

Do I have a prediction whether Helton, who finished with 52 percent last year, or, for that matter, Scott Rolen, who was at 63.2 percent, will make it? Of course not. It’s hard to tell what nearly 400 voters will do. But with the lack of easy first-ballot players, it’s a good chance for the two to make headway. I believe the Coors Field stigma, which left Larry Walker waiting until his 10th and final year of eligibility, has lessened for Helton.

Do I believe he’s a Hall of Famer? Yes. I won’t go through stats here. MLB.com colleagues Alyson Footer, Mark Feinsand, Bill Ladson, Manny Randhawa and I debated this a year ago. Will it happen now? It’ll be close. From following the tracker in the past, borderline players’ percentages tend to drop closer to the deadline.

2. Can GM Bill Schmidt quicken the pace?

I love big news and I cannot lie. But the Rockies making shrewd moves — not just signing a lefty bat (Michael Conforto, anyone?) but beefing up the rotation — is not about my need for stories.

The plan to build around shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and some of the key prospects who could become Rockies as early as this season makes some sense. But how much of Bryant’s seven-year, $182 million deal and — more importantly — how much of the contracts of starters Germán Márquez (through ’23, club option for ’24) and Freeland (through ’26, vesting option for ’27) will be spent building, while the Dodgers and Padres spend to stay on top and the Giants look for some star to accept their money?

Some of the most frustrated Rockies over the years have been players who signed long deals only to spend most of the time languishing in the standings. Since taking over as GM during the 2021 season, Schmidt has emphasized having the organization pulling in the same direction. But with four years having passed since the last postseason trip, what can be done to make the pull faster?

Interestingly, the Rockies have approached the bullpen like a team thinking it could sneak into contention. They extended closer Daniel Bard for two years, accelerated Dinelson Lamet’s conversion to late relief and picked up two relievers with recent experience with contending teams — lefty Brent Suter and righty Pierce Johnson. After signing Johnson, club sources indicated there could be another bullpen signing.

Now, to produce a team that will have leads for the bullpen to protect.

3. Will Charlie Blackmon get his Helton moment?

Helton’s home run totals ranged from 30 to 42 from 1999 to 2004, and he made five All-Star Game appearances. The numbers began dipping in 2005. While the power never reached previous levels, he was one of the team’s clutch performers during the run to the World Series in 2007 and a return to the postseason in ’09 — his age 33 and 35 seasons.

Blackmon, likewise, made four All-Star appearances from 2014-19, but has seen across-the-board dips the last three seasons, and he’ll turn 37 on July 1. There have been some sizzling periods — the beginning of 2020 and a 14-homer first half to last season. Much like Helton, Blackmon’s desire hasn’t waned.

The Rockies would need to surprise the world and find their way into playoff relevance. But it would be nice for Blackmon to have the opportunity that Helton had in ’07 to deliver a magic moment. With Blackmon not signed beyond this year, it could be a final moment for a player who (like Helton) has spent his entire career in purple pinstripes.