SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — On the eve of the Rockies’ 2018 season opener, general manager Jeff Bridich sat down with The Denver Post for the “On the Rox” podcast. Following are select segments from the podcast:

Q: What are your expectations for this year’s team?

Bridich: “I feel like we have a deep and talented squad. I feel like there is a pretty good mix of veterans in a number of positions, and there is also an element of talented youth. So I like that mix.

“A lot of it will come down to health. And a lot of it will come down to us, internally managing expectations and managing the details of every single day. We got a taste of playoff baseball last year, but this is a different team. It’s a team that needs to gel and find its identity and manage these playoff and postseason expectations that we’ve got now.”

Q: What were the deciding factors in bringing back Carlos Gonzalez to a one-year, $8 million contract?

Bridich: “We never really fell out of love with CarGo. There were things that went on — a year and a month ago — and he chose to test the free-agent market, which obviously was well within his rights as a player. We know that, performance-wise, he’s a better player than what he showed last year. I think he has proven that, especially with all of his years with us. We were thrilled that he helped us get back to the playoffs last year, and played winning baseball.

“When he reached out to us, late in the winter, He said, ‘What do you guys think, about coming back here?’ And I think that really started to kick-start things.

“We’re excited to have him back and we fully expect him to re-find his game and re-find his mojo again. And be the big bat, and the smiley, positive guy in the clubhouse and all of those things that help us win games.”

Q: You spent $106 million for closer Wade Davis and set-up men Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee. Bolstering your bullpen was a big part of your philosophy, right?

Bridich: “It’s been a work in progress as our pitching has developed. I just feel like this year we had a willingness to be aggressive in a couple of different ways. Catching, one (by signing veteran Chris Iannetta). And the bullpen, another.

“We felt like there were guys out on the market that had interest in being here, and they saw a good fit for themselves with this team, and (saw us) as a team that should compete. This was a team they wanted to be a part of, we were willing to make that commitment. And some of those stars aligned for us.”

Q: You are not a fan of the rumor mill that’s become such a part of baseball and media coverage. What is it that bothers you so much? Related Articles Rockies starting pitcher German Marquez thrives as Colorado rolls Giants, 7-2

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Bridich: “It’s a good question and a fair question. Personally there are a number of reasons why.

“These are busy (front-office) jobs and they are all-consuming … There are only so many minutes and hours in a day and we have to make a choice on how we spend those minutes and hours.

“And for me, diving into the rumor mill or whatever else, is just not a great use of our time. Because so much of the rumor mill ends up being just that — false. It’s not all untrue, but there is a lot out there lacking truth. It’s not a great use of our time.

“(Another) problem with it is that the stuff that gets written is about actual human beings. It’s real people and their families. Especially when it’s happening during the season, it bothers guys … stuff that’s not even remotely true. It becomes just this pointless cycle of nonsense.”