DENVER -- Bud Black is taking his pitching expertise to hitter-friendly Coors Field.

The highly regarded mound guru was announced as manager of the Colorado Rockies on Monday.

Black takes over for Walt Weiss, who stepped down last month when his contract expired after four years in charge of the Rockies. They finished 75-87 last season, their best record since 2010.

The 59-year-old Black managed the San Diego Padres for nearly nine seasons before he was fired in June 2015. He compiled a 649-713 record and was voted NL Manager of the Year in 2010 after the Padres went 90-72, their most wins since a franchise-record 98 in 1998.

Washington nearly hired Black after the 2015 season before contract talks broke down and the Nationals gave the job to Dusty Baker.

Bud Black had been widely thought to be the future Nationals manager last year, but after talks fell through, he rejoined the Angels as a special assistant to the GM. Jake Roth/USA TODAY Sports

"You know what works here -- good pitching and making pitches and getting outs,'' Black said Monday . "That's what we have to do. I don't think we have to change anybody. We've got to make guys better. And these guys are pretty good to start with.''

Black's hiring by the Rockies was first reported by FanRag Sports.

After a major league career that spanned 15 seasons on the mound, Black became a respected pitching coach for the Angels. He brings a wealth of experience to a team that has long struggled to get outs in Denver's thin air a mile above sea level.

Colorado had a 4.91 ERA this past season, tied with Cincinnati for 13th out of 15 National League teams. Arizona (5.09) was the only club that was worse.

Yet the Rockies boast young talent in a starting rotation led by Jon Gray, the third overall pick in the 2013 draft. Tyler Chatwood had the best road ERA (1.69) in the majors last season, while Chad Bettis and Tyler Anderson made big strides. The team will more than likely lose Jorge De La Rosa, the franchise's all-time winningest pitcher, in free agency.

"There's a difference between talented and good. We have talent,'' Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich said. "The next step is to become a good team -- a good and consistent team.''

One of the biggest challenges will be shoring up a shaky bullpen that blew 28 save chances in 2016. Colorado finished 24-36 in games decided by no more than two runs.

Black was lauded for the way he ran bullpens with the Angels and Padres.

On offense, Black inherits an NL batting champion in second baseman DJ LeMahieu, an all-around star in third baseman Nolan Arenado, an up-and-coming shortstop in Trevor Story and a feared hitter in outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.

"I like the group that we have," Arenado said after the final game of the season. "I think we are close. But basically, when I say that, it's for the fans. I want fans to know that so they don't lose hope. I feel bad. They come out every day to see us lose the way we do sometimes."

Arenado led the NL in RBIs (133) and tied for the home run title with 41. He played stellar defense at third base again and could be in line for his fourth straight Gold Glove.

Black spent a large portion of his playing career with Kansas City and was part of a Royals rotation that helped the team win the 1985 World Series. He won 121 games with Kansas City, Seattle, Cleveland, San Francisco and Toronto.

After his playing days, he became the pitching coach for the Angels and spent seven seasons under manager Mike Scioscia. Black helped the team to the 2002 World Series title before taking over the Padres heading into the 2007 season.

Black rejoined the Angels as a special assistant to the general manager last November.

Owner Dick Monfort made a list of eight or nine qualities he wanted to see his next manager embody, only he didn't get around to sharing it with Bridich.

"I went down that list and checked a lot of them off [with Black],'' Monfort said. "He understands how to play games here. "I've always watched him manage at San Diego. He seems to be a tough guy. He understands the game, obviously has a lot of experience. I think that fits well.''

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.