DENVER (AP) — The immediate picture for the Colorado Rockies looks grim: a slumping offense that couldn’t support solid pitching led to a quick end of Rocktober .The larger view http://www.arizonacardinalsteamonline.com/josh-rosen-jersey , now that’s one third baseman Nolan Arenado prefers to take with him into the offseason.Although the season ended with a three-game sweep by Milwaukee in the NL Division Series, the Rockies took a step forward in 2018. A year ago, they were eliminated in the NL wild-card game. This season, they beat Chicago in the wild-card contest to make it to the division series, only to run into the Brewers and their dominant arms.Colorado (91-72) won the second-most games in franchise history and came one victory short of its first NL West title. The bats simply went silent at the wrong time.“It’s on the offense,” said Arenado, whose team hit a franchise-worst .256 in the regular season. “We couldn’t get anything going. But it was a solid year. We played really well.”On a gloomy Sunday at Coors Field, the Rockies were eliminated when they were held to four hits in a 6-0 loss. Fans booed.Arenado gets it. The Rockies hit .146 against Milwaukee and scored in one of 28 innings.“It’s October. You’ve got to do something,” said Arenado, who was kept in the park after hitting an NL-leading 38 homers in the regular season. “I wasn’t able to.”Big decisions loom for general manager Jeff Bridich: Possibly a long-term deal with Arenado, eligible to become a free agent after the 2019 season. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu, outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and 38-year-old Matt Holliday, who was recalled by the team on Aug. 23 and hit .283 down the stretch, all can go free in a few weeks.“I’ve left every season knowing I’m probably going to come back and probably going to play a lot,” LeMahieu said. “The thought it might be my last game as a Rockie, obviously, it’s a little bit more emotional.”The Rockies were eight games out of the NL West lead on June 28. The team went 52-29 the rest of the way, including 9-1 down the stretch Josh Rosen Jersey Limited , to force a one-game tiebreaker for the division title. It was the start of quite an arduous trip — to LA, where the Rockies lost 5-2, and on to Chicago for a 2-1 win in 13 innings to advance. Then, off Milwaukee and finally back home.That was a lot of miles.“Rough on everybody,” Gonzalez said. “But we grind all year and everybody should feel proud.”Along the way, Colorado developed a young rotation that featured hard-throwing German Marquez and Denver native Kyle Freeland, whose 2.40 ERA at Coors Field was the lowest for a Rockies starting pitcher.“Last year we got a little taste of the postseason with the wild card and this year we got into the NLDS and kind of showed the world what this team is capable of,” Freeland said. “It’s very exciting to see what can come.”Things to know after the Rockies made back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in franchise history:STANDINGS RECAP: The Rockies spent 29 days either leading or tied for the top spot in the NL West. They were all over the standings, including in fourth place for a total of 22 days. “Our guys played their butts off, man,” manager Bud Black said. “They really did.”HOME GROWN: The Rockies became the first team since the 2011 Tampa Bay Rays to exclusively use starting pitchers who never played for another major league team, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The starters went 59-43 with 883 strikeouts and logged 84 quality starts. “They pitched great,” Arenado said. “They gave us a chance to win.”ALL-STARS: Shortstop Trevor Story, outfielder Charlie Blackmon and Arenado made the All-Star team this season. They struggled in four games during the postseason, going a combined 10 for 49 with three RBIs.SEE YOU NEXT SPRING?: LeMahieu hopes to be back next season. Arenado vows to be back — possibly with a new deal. “This is a business. I know things can get a little weird with that side of stuff,” Arenado said. “I expect to be here.”THE NUMBERS: Marquez set a franchise-record with 230 strikeouts. … Story led the NL in extra-base hits with 85. … Closer Wade Davis led the NL with 43 saves. … Adam Ottavino had 112 Ks, the most by a reliever in team history. … The Rockies batted .225 on the road, their lowest mark in franchise history. SEATTLE (AP) — Mallex Smith was made a promise by Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto when he was acquired for a second time by the Mariners after an initial tenure that lasted less than two hours.“Dipoto didn’t guarantee anything Authentic Julio Jones Jersey , but he said I at least have 78 minutes,” Smith joked. “We’ll see.”Smith is back with the Mariners as part of a five-player deal between Seattle and Tampa Bay on Thursday that landed the Rays catcher Mike Zunino and outfielder Guillermo Heredia.The swap continued a lengthy trade history between the teams and came as a surprise to Zunino, who said he had recent conversations with Seattle manager Scott Servais looking ahead to 2019.“I was shocked. To see your name in trade talks, let alone this early in the offseason, was beyond my expectations,” Zunino said.Smith, 25, stole a career-best 40 bases this year and was caught 12 times. He hit .296, tied for the major league lead with 10 triples and had 40 RBIs. He is not eligible for free agency until after the 2022 season. He signed with San Diego in 2012, was traded to Atlanta in December 2014 and was dealt to the Mariners in January 2017, then sent to the Rays on the same day in a trade that shipped left-hander Drew Smyly to Seattle.His previous Seattle stint lasted all of 77 minutes before he was sent to the Rays.“Bringing Mallex back home to Seattle is exciting for us all,” Dipoto said in a statement. “His combination of speed, base running impact, defense and on-base abilities are unique in today’s game. We believe his breakout 2018 performance reflects the many ways his skills will positively impact the Mariners for years to come.”Smith said he’s going in with the idea of playing in center field, which would allow Seattle to move Dee Gordon to his natural position of second base. But the move for Smith could just be the start of a hectic offseason overhaul for the Mariners.“I feel like it’s a good fit. I feel like the team wants me,” Smith said. “It’s very comfortable when you know the team wants you. Jerry has traded for me twice, so I feel like I’ll fit in well here.”Heredia, who turns 28 in January Julio Jones Jersey Limited , hit .236 with five homers and 19 RBIs in 337 plate appearances as a fourth outfielder for the Mariners this year. He is not eligible for free agency until after the 2022 season.Zunino, 27, was taken by Seattle with the third overall pick in the 2012 amateur draft and signed for a $4 million bonus. He hit just .201 this year but had 20 homers with 44 RBIs, down from a .251 average, 25 homers and 64 RBIs in 2017. While well-regarded for his defense, he has struck out 310 times in 760 at-bats during the past two seasons.Zunino said an oblique injury just before the start of the regular season caused him to struggle at the plate and led to his drop from the progress he had shown as a hitter in 2017.“It really took me longer than I’d like. I came back and it took me longer than I would have liked to get comfortable,” Zunino said. “Once that happened, I ended up giving away too many at-bats … tried to chase too much. I think getting back to that, trying to take care of my body, getting back to 100 percent is the main goal. I feel great now.”Zunino grew up in Cape Coral, Florida, and played for the University of Florida. He made $2,975,000 this year, is eligible for salary arbitration and can become a free agent following the 2020 season.Seattle also sent minor league left-handed pitcher Michael Plassmeyer to Tampa Bay while the Rays sent minor league outfielder Jake Fraley to the Mariners.