The mood in the visitor’s clubhouse at Chase Field on Wednesday night was somber, but certainly not defeatist.

“We did a lot of things right,” center fielder Charlie Blackmon said after the Rockies’ 11-8 loss to Arizona in the National League wild-card playoff game. “I don’t think you look at a successful season as a negative because of this last game. We saw a lot of improvement this year. We took a step forward.”

Now it’s up to general manager Jeff Bridich and his staff to keep the Rockies moving forward.

That’s no easy task because a number of players central to the team’s success this past season are unlikely to return, including closer Greg Holland and right-fielder Carlos Gonzalez. Other key players — notably veteran catcher Jonathan Lucroy, first baseman Mark Reynolds and relievers Pat Neshek and Jake McGee — are also scheduled to become free agents.

Owner Dick Monfort opened his checkbook during the past year and that helped the Rockies break a six-season losing streak and make the postseason for the first time since 2009. According to Spotrac, Colorado’s season-ending payroll for its 25-man roster was $105 million, which ranked 16th in the majors.

Colorado’s total payroll was $146.7 million, 17th in the majors. That number includes so-called “dead money” paid to players such as infielder Jose Reyes ($22 million), and relievers Jason Motte ($5 million), Chad Qualls ($3.2 million) and Jordan Lyles ($3.175 million) who did not finish the season with the Rockies. Reyes, part of the 2015 trade with Toronto for Troy Tulowitzki, played the entire 2017 season with the New York Mets, but the Rockies still paid the bulk of his salary.

All of that dead money comes off the books for 2018, as does the $20.4 million the Rockies paid Gonzalez this season. That should provide the club with flexibility for free-agent signings, or perhaps allow the Rockies to consider locking up Blackmon to a long-term contract. Blackmon, 31, led all of baseball in batting average (.331) and set major-league records for leadoff men in total bases (383) and RBIs (102 of his 103 RBIs came out of the top spot in the order). Blackmon’s contract expires after the 2018 season, as does second baseman D.J. LeMahieu’s.

Nolan Arenado‘s contract runs through 2019 and there has been no indication, thus far, that Colorado has talked to the all-star third baseman about a long-term deal.

Holland’s situation is tricky. Bridich took a “calculated risk” to sign Holland last winter to a base salary of $6 million with incentives built in that eventually led to the closer getting paid $14 million this season. More important, Holland’s success triggered a clause that turned a $10 million mutual option for 2018 into a $15 million player option.

Holland, who turns 32 next month, has said he will talk to the Rockies about returning, but there are no guarantees that he will. He could be seeking a free-agent contract similar to the four-year, $62 million contract Mark Melancon signed with San Francisco before this season.

Teams, however, will look at Holland with a skeptical eye. He tied a franchise record with 41 saves and made his third all-star team, posting a 1.62 ERA in the first half. But he had a 6.38 ERA in the second half and was tagged for three runs in the wild-card loss. Related Articles September 19, 2020 Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw stumps Rockies in 6-1 Colorado loss at Coors Field

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Lucroy, whom manager Bud Black credits with helping nurture Colorado’s young rotation after arriving in a trade from Texas on July 30, said he’s open to returning to Colorado.

“I’d absolutely (be interested) in coming back,” he said. “As a free agent, you look at a lot of things. I look at things even more than money. I want to know what teams are going to be in there. I do not want to go to a team that’s just going to be average. I want to go to a team that is going to be good. I want to contribute to a playoff team.

“Look, I’m a 31-year-old catcher, so I have to get going. I want a ring, or two, or three. And I think the opportunity is definitely here for that to happen.”

Bridich has said he will have “conversations” with Lucroy about re-upping with the Rockies, but has not said more than that. But it’s clear that Bridich was happy with the job Lucroy did behind the plate.

“To bring a veteran in that’s been around (and), knows what playoff baseball is like … he’s done a great job,” Bridich said. “I think every single time, especially with the starters, that he’s caught guys and they get to know each other better, he got more and more comfortable.”

Reynolds, who came to spring training with a minor-league contract, became indispensable this past season, hitting 30 home runs and driving in 97 runs. He’s 34 and not likely to land more than a one-year deal, so there is a chance the Rockies will bring him back.

Black, though disappointed in his club’s quick ouster from the playoffs, is excited about the future.

“This was a good year for our group,” he said. “A lot of things transpired that I think will help us in the future. The position players and the pitchers, I think there were some boxes that were checked off for some guys that will hopefully help us moving forward. But our guys should be very proud of how they played.”

Rockies free agents

A look at the Rockies who will become free agents, with their 2017 salary listed.

RHP Greg Holland ($14 million)

2018 outlook: Likely to exercise $15 million player option and test the free-agent market. A great first half and a shaky second half makes the three-time all-star’s value a big question mark.

RF Carlos Gonzalez ($20.4 million)

2018 outlook: Not likely to be re-signed by Rockies. Hit just .221 in the first half with an ugly .299 on-base percentage and .388 slugging percentage. Rebounded by hitting .377 in September with a .484 on-base percentage, .766 slugging percentage and six home runs. Will that be enough to land him more than a one-year deal on the open market?

C Jonathan Lucroy ($6.25 million)

2018 outlook: Batted .310 with a .429 on-base percentage in 46 games after mid-season trade to Rockies, but showed little power. Rockies are interested in bringing him back to help work with their young pitchers.

RHP Pat Neshek ($6.5 million)

2018 outlook: Served up a back-breaking triple to D-backs reliever Archie Bradley in wild-card game, but overall, he had a terrific run with the Rockies, posting a 2.45 ERA with just one walk in 28 games after being acquired from Philadelphia. He’s 37, so Rockies have a chance to bring him back at a reasonable cost.

LHP Jake McGee ($5.9 million):

2018 outlook: His knee healthy and his velocity back, McGee had a bounce-back season, with a 3.61 ERA in 62 appearances. Rockies might re-sign him with an eye on making him a candidate to close.

1B Mark Reynolds ($1.5 million):

2018 outlook: Turned down $3 million offer to play in Korea because he wanted to return to Rockies. Slugged 30 homers and drove in 97 runs. Another one-year deal could be in the cards for the 34-year-old journeyman.

RHP Tyler Chatwood ($4.4 million):

2018 outlook: His 77 walks ranked third in the National League and that drove manager Bud Black crazy. Chatwood was unhappy with his demotion to the bullpen and is seeking a fresh start outside Colorado.

C Ryan Hanigan ($1.25 million):

2018 outlook: Played in 33 games and hit .267 as a much-needed backup. At age 37, his best bet is to sign a minor-league deal and hope to hook up with another team, if he wants to keep playing.