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Fans in Colorado have become accustomed to offseasons defined by careful spending and insignificant moves.

With another distasteful season under their belts, the Rockies need to determine whether to buy or sell this winter. It’s decision time for Dan O’Dowd and this front office.

Having a payroll that ranks among the lowest in baseball, the Rockies have typically adhered to the “do the most with the least” philosophy. In fact, if you look at ballclubs like Houston, Miami, Chicago and Minnesota, the Rockies have put together some solid teams in comparison.

That being said, the organization is still coming off its third straight losing season. In each one of those seasons, the Rockies have had top-10, playoff-worthy offensive output with very little to show defensively and on the rubber.

With a new regional television deal, the Rockies are expecting increased revenue. The higher payroll will allow the organization to spend a little more this offseason and depend less upon the farm system, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com.

However, the Rockies still don’t have the luxury to go out and spend frivolously, meaning O’Dowd will have to bite the bullet and work a few deals this offseason.

Michael Cuddyer, Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki are owed a combined $37 million in 2014. The front office will have to look into fixing a back end of the bullpen and acquiring another reliable starting pitcher.

To free up some cap space, the Rockies might want to look into dealing Dexter Fowler, who’s owed $7.35 million in 2014. Fowler is coming off an injury-plagued season and he hit just .221 in the second half. His contract expires after the 2014 season.

At just 27 years old, he could warrant some interest this offseason from teams in the market for a center fielder.

With a slew of relievers pre-arbitration eligible in 2014, this might be a good time to sift out some arms. After the injury to 38-year-old Rafael Betancourt, the Rockies likely will not exercise his $4.25 million option, allotting enough money to bolster the pen.

The same can be said for Matt Belisle, who is beginning to show signs of age and also has a $4.25 million option. He posted an ERA over four in the second half.

The free agent market isn’t great for pitchers in general. So, once again, the Rockies will need to spend wisely.

Jhoulys Chacin, Jorge De La Rosa and Tyler Chatwood are locks for next season’s starting rotation. According to Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post, the back end of the rotation posted an abysmal 7-31 record on the season.

Overall, the Rockies sit in a relatively comfortable financial situation to make some changes this offseason. Fans should absolutely expect a revamped bullpen and be hopeful for another starting pitcher in 2014.

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While the Colorado Rockies are currently bringing up the rear in the NL West standings, there are a slew of prospects in their system exceeding expectations.

The Modesto Nuts served as the only team in the system to make the Minor League postseason, but there are still prospects scattered around the organization producing.

The Rockies have the talent on offense to compete at a high level. It’s just a matter of taking the farm talent and filling in the cracks for 2014.

Here is the revised list of Rockies prospects following the 2013 minor league season.

All minor league statistics provided by BaseballReference.com.

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As the 2013 MLB regular approaches the All-Star break, the Colorado Rockies are gearing up to make a playoff push in the second half.

Similar to last season, injury has defined this very talented ball club through the majority of the first half. However, all the pieces are beginning to fall back into place for the Rox, who have a legitimate shot to compete in a mediocre NL West.

On Thursday, the Rockies activated Dexter Fowler and Troy Tulowitzki from the disabled list, demoting Tyler Colvin and their promising young talent, Corey Dickerson.

Dickerson had flashes of brilliance during his three weeks in the bigs, but batted just .188 in 39 at-bats.

The addition of Tulowitzki and Fowler should keep the Rockies in contention, but the rest of the team needs to maintain some sort of consistency down the stretch.

Here are the hottest and the coldest Rockies heading into the All-Star break.

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It’s eight weeks into the minor league season and we‘re already starting to see some of Major League Baseball’s top prospects working their way to the show.

Monday’s recall of top-prospect Jurickson Profar marks the first major league call-up of a top-10 prospect this season. With teams like the Miami Marlins proving to be the furthest thing from contenders, we may see a few more top prospects getting the call in the coming weeks.

However, it’s been rather quiet on the prospect-front this week. The Marlins’ Christian Yelich saw his average slip under .300 and even the red-hot Francisco Lindor’s average took a hit.

It’s been an unusually rough week for the top pitching prospects as well.

All minor league stats are courtesy of MiLB.com.

1. Jurickson Profar, 2B, Texas Rangers

2013 Stats: .222/.200/.222, 1 R, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 0 BB (3 G)

Ah, yes, the much anticipated major league arrival of Jurickson Profar is finally here. Nervousness and eagerness have perennially plagued some top prospects’ performance upon their arrival to the majors, and it’s beginning to look like Profar may be falling into that category.

Granted, it has only been three games, but so far Profar is looking uncharacteristically uncomfortable at the dish. For Triple-A Round Rock this season, Profar was able to work deep into counts, fighting off pitches and working a decent amount of walks.

Overall, his early struggles are simply rookie jitters. Profar will improve and the Texas Rangers will have a big decision to make once Ian Kinsler returns from the disabled list.

Stock: Up

2. Oscar Taveras, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

2013 Stats: .317/.351/.480, 17 R, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 5 SB, 6 BB (31 G)

After suffering an ankle injury two weeks ago, things are looking up for Cardinals top-prospect Oscar Taveras. The 20-year-old outfielder has been running agility drills and will likely return to the lineup on Sunday, according to CBSSports.com.

Up until his injury, Taveras was living up to expectations and a major league call-up seemed imminent. In his last 15 at-bats before his injury, Taveras was 7-for-15. If he can pick up right where he left off, he’ll find his way to the Cardinals’ outfield in the next few weeks.

Stock: Hold

3. Dylan Bundy, RHP, Baltimore Orioles

2013 Stats: N/A

There is still no set date for the return of Orioles’ top-pitching prospect Dylan Bundy. Yesterday, the 20-year-old right-hander began testing his full range of pitching motions in his right arm with positive results. That’s good news for the Orioles, whose rotation’s 4.79 ERA currently ranks 25th in baseball.

Bundy received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right arm last month after being diagnosed with right flexor mass tightness in his elbow.

Stock: Hold

4. Wil Myers, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

2013 Stats: .242/.333./.388, 25 R, 5 HR, 30 RBI, 3 SB, 23 BB (43 G)

Last week’s struggles have carried over into week eight for Rays’ top-prospect Wil Myers. In his last 40 at-bats, Myers has just seven hits with one homer. His 53 strikeouts on the season is another ugly mark that needs improvement. Still, Myers remains part of a select group of prospects that teeter on the edge between the majors and minors.

With Desmond Jennings struggling at the plate and Ben Zobrists’ positional flexibility, the Rays are keeping the outfield warm for a potential Myers call-up. Nevertheless, if the 22-year-old outfielder continues to lack offensive production, general manager Andrew Friedman won’t hesitate to give Myers more time to develop in Triple-A Durham.

Stock: Down

5. Gerrit Cole, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

2013 Stats: 48.0 IP, 3.75 ERA, .214 AVG, 35 K, 23 BB (9 GS)

Pittsburgh Pirates top-pitching prospect Gerrit Cole has displayed a serious lack of control in 2013, thus far. Cole is walking 2.5 batters a game, while his strikeout totals haven’t been anything impressive. In his last start on Sunday, Cole was tagged for eight earned runs in 5.2 innings.

Cole isn’t in jeopardy of drastically losing his stock this early in the season, but he isn’t where he should be at this point in his minor league career. He has the stuff to be a successful major league middle of the rotation guy if he can fix his command.

With the Pirates’ pitching staff pitching well, don’t expect a call-up any time soon.

Stock: Down

6. Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners

2013 Stats: 52.0 IP, 2.77 ERA, .197 AVG, 57 K, 25 BB (9 GS)

After an excellent start to the minor league season for Taijuan Walker, the Mariners’ top-pitching prospect has tailed off a bit over his last few starts. Last Sunday, Walker allowed seven runs (5 earned) in 4.2 innings. Like Cole, one, even two bad starts every so often won’t hurt a young pitching prospect.

Walker’s strikeout totals have been excellent and he’s been showing he has the stuff to compete at a high level. Even with the success, don’t expect Walker in the big leagues until later in the season, if at all.

However, Walker should be promoted from Double-A to Triple-A in the coming months.

Stock: Hold

7. Xander Bogaerts, SS, Boston Red Sox

2013 Stats: .276/.353/.423, 28 R, 2 HR, 20 RBI, 4 SB, 19 BB (39 G)

Red Sox top-prospect Xander Bogaerts continues to post consistent numbers in Double-A Portland. This week, Bogaerts is hitting just .222, but has proved clutch knocking in five RBI.

Bogaerts is still a year away from the majors, but he’s shown vast improvement from last year in Single-A at the dish. Even with the low average this week, he’s making solid contact and keeping the strikeouts to a minimum—an area he’s struggled in his young career.

It’s only a matter of time until this guy catches fire and gets promoted to Triple-A. For the remainder of this season, the Red Sox will continue to rely on Jose Iglesias and Stephen Drew for production from the left side of the infield.

Stock: Up

8. Zack Wheeler, RHP, New York Mets

2013 Stats: 48.1 IP, 3.91 ERA, .246 AVG, 49 K, 20 BB (9 GS)

Zack Wheeler has been flaunting his stuff so far this season and lies on the verge of his first major league call-up in the next two weeks. The Mets’ top-pitching prospect is expected to make his debut after two or three more minor league starts, CBSSports.com is reporting.

The Mets, who currently sit at a 17-27 record, have little to lose and everything to gain from promoting Wheeler to the bigs. In his start on Wednesday, Wheeler picked up the win and allowed three earned runs over five innings.

Outside of Jon Niese and the dominant youngster Matt Harvey, the rest of the Mets’ rotation combines for a horrendous 2-15 record. Wheeler has a chance to add some stability to a desperate rotation upon his call-up.

Stock: Up

9. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland

2013 Stats: .324/.393/.453, 26 R, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 11 SB, 19 BB (44 G) 

Cleveland top-prospect Francisco Lindor is shaping into one of the premier young talents in the minors. He continues to outhit virtually every one of the top-10 prospects.

Lindor, just 19, is at the very least a year away from the majors. His hot start to the season could have him jumping to Double-A in the coming months. Over his last 10 games, the average is down but remains respectable at .282.

Stock: Hold

10. Christian Yelich, OF, Miami Marlins

2013 Stats: .296/.359/.589, 24 R, 6 HR, 26 RBI, 4 SB, 14 BB (31 G)

Like most hitters on this list, Christian Yelich is having a down week at the plate. The Marlins prospect is just 4-for-22 at the dish after starting the month off red hot. Still, due to the Marlins’ struggles, Yelich could be on his way up to the majors sooner rather than later.

Whether owner Jeffrey Loria wants to admit it or not, this is undoubtedly a rebuilding year for Miami. Like the Astros in Houston, the situation gives prospects like Yelich the perfect opportunity to exhibit their talent at a major league level with little cost to the organization. If he continues hitting, expect Yelich in the majors before the All-Star break.

Stock: Hold

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