Alexander, 35, is 20-15 with 10 saves and a career 3.20 ERA in 328 appearances (13 starts) with four teams. He spent last season with the Athletics (1-3 with a 2.56 ERA in 45 games), during which he missed the first two-plus months at the start of the year with a left rib bone contusion and half of August with left rotator cuff tendinitis.

Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt has been seeking a veteran lefty to add to what is a hard-throwing but youthful bullpen. Alexander, who broke in with the Royals in 2015 and spent time with the Dodgers (2018-21) and Giants (2022-23), has a career 1.46 ERA in 14 career games (two starts) at Coors Field and owns a career 67.9 percent ground-ball rate .

Lucas Gilbreath, who was developing into a dependable lefty before Tommy John surgery in 2022 and saw his comeback in ‘24 limited by shoulder issues, is building up for a comeback. Doctors discovered compression in the neck-shoulder area and Gilbreath underwent neurogenic thoracic outlet surgery in October. He hopes to face hitters next week.

“There’s going to be a little more interaction with the guys behind us -- the technology people,” said Black, who said he has met with Triple-A Albuquerque manager Pedro Lopez and staff for guidance on judiciously using challenges. “They can catch a pitch: ‘Hey, was that a strike?’ just to get a feel for that.”