This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding¡¯s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

DENVER -- With the Rockies expected to once again field a mostly young and homegrown roster, the news that veteran free-agent second baseman Thairo Estrada -- who had an injury-filled year with the Giants but two productive seasons as a regular in San Francisco previously -- could be on the Rockies' radar warmed up Colorado¡¯s Hot Stove.

The Rockies have deemed second base as a priority after non-tendering Brendan Rodgers to avoid his arbitration-affected salary. While the Rockies have signed veteran Kyle Farmer for one year and $3.25 million and have rookie Aaron Schunk on the roster, they plan to use both as multiposition players rather than regulars at second. That¡¯s led to Estrada¡¯s name emerging in the days before the Winter Meetings start in Dallas on Monday.

Estrada, who turns 29 in February, began his career with the Yankees in 2019-20 before earning significant playing time with the Giants in ¡®22 and ¡®23. In 260 games with San Francisco in ¡®22 and ¡®23, Estrada posted a combined .727 OPS with 28 home runs and 44 stolen bases. But in 2024, Estrada sustained wrist and thumb injuries, batting just .217 with a .247 on-base percentage in 96 games before being outrighted in late August.

According to multiple sources, the Rockies have pursued Estrada primarily, but have had some level of contact with former Cub Nick Madrigal and former Blue Jay, Marlin and Yankee Jon Berti. The Rockies want a strong infielder to go along with 2024 Gold Glove winner Ezequiel Tovar at shortstop, four-time Gold Glove finalist Ryan McMahon at third base and potential star Michael Toglia at first base. More importantly, the Rockies need an offensive player with the ability to reach base, offer speed on the bases and provide a professional at-bat.

The pursuit of Estrada, or any other veteran, is a confirmation and not an abandonment of a youth movement that has been painful -- as evidenced by 2023 and 2024 being the first two triple-figure loss seasons in club history.

A large part of the Rockies¡¯ future will be in the hands of Adael Amador (Colorado's No. 5 prospect) and Ryan Ritter (No. 12) -- but neither is expected to be ready for the Majors at the start of 2025. Instead of scuttling a youth movement by turning to players who aren¡¯t ready yet, the Rockies seem focused on adding a veteran to improve the lineup while Amador and Ritter improve in the Minors.

Here is a look at the upcoming Winter Meetings:

Key events

? Sunday, Dec. 8: HOF Classic Baseball Era Committee results released
? Tuesday, Dec. 10: MLB Draft Lottery
? Wednesday, Dec. 11: Rule 5 Draft

Club needs

Second base tops the list. Whoever the club brings in should allow development time for the aforementioned prospects. Amador, who debuted briefly last season, likely will begin the year at Double-A Hartford and gain experience after an oblique injury affected his 2024 campaign. Ritter, a fourth-round pick out of the University of Kentucky in 2022, could begin the year at Triple-A Albuquerque, after solid work at Hartford and in the Arizona Fall League in ¡®24.

The Rockies also are seeking relief experience. Even beyond the 40-man roster, the Rockies are trying to stockpile depth -- especially in the bullpen. Don¡¯t be surprised to see the Rockies active in the market for pitchers with Major League experience who can be signed to non-roster deals.

Potential trade candidates

The club remains open to filling their stated needs by making trades, but it¡¯s hard to see an avenue to a deal. They non-tendered Rodgers and right-hander Cal Quantrill after neither drew trade interest, mainly because other teams felt the Rockies¡¯ tight payroll made both of them non-tender candidates.

Three players could have drawn interest, but the Rockies have shown no inclination to make them available. McMahon, in the fourth year of a six-year, $70 million deal, is coming off his first All-Star Game trip and is valued as a leader. Righty Germ¨¢n M¨¢rquez, who is coming off Tommy John surgery in ¡®23 and a stress reaction in ¡®24, is at the end of a two-year, $20 million extension but must prove his ability to stay healthy. As for prospects, the Rockies showed faith in outfielder Zac Veen (MLB Pipeline No. 83, Rockies No. 3) by adding him to the 40-man roster, and did not entertain dealing him.

Prospect to know

After using 12 players who were 24 or younger last season, the youth movement will continue. Prospect to know? Take your pick. We¡¯ll go with right-handed pitcher Chase Dollander (Pipeline No. 20, Rockies No. 2), who will receive a fair look in Spring Training after a strong year at Single-A Spokane and Double-A Hartford after being chosen ninth overall in the 2023 Draft. Among others with a chance to earn a job in camp are lefties Carson Palmquist (Rockies No. 14), Scott Sullivan (No. 10) and righty Gabriel Hughes (No. 22), who underwent Tommy John surgery in his right elbow in ¡®23 and missed ¡®24.

Rule 5 Draft

The Rockies acquired righty Yujanyer Herrera (No. 29) from the Brewers at the Trade Deadline but did not put him on the 40-man roster. Herrera, 21, reached 100 professional innings for the first time in 2024 and posted a combined 3.04 ERA at the Single-A and High-A levels. The fact the 40-man roster is full indicates the Rockies are not likely to make a pick; however, a strong-armed potential starter could be enticing.

Burning question: When will youth lead to Major League success?

It won¡¯t be answered this week. But how long before the stockpiling of young pitching through the Draft and trades during this rebuild, and the introduction of position prospects, improves the Major League record?