Rebuilding the Rockies Front Office Before the Team: What's Behind the Strategy

The Colorado Rockies limped to the end of 2025 with a 43-119 record—one of the ugliest seasons in modern baseball history. It wasn't just the losses; it was the sheer dominance of defeat, with a run differential that plummeted to historic lows and a team that looked utterly broken on the mound and at the dish. Three straight 100-loss years had worn thin on everyone in the Rocky Mountain region.

So when the offseason kicked off, the first move towards progress was made. It started with Bill Schmidt stepping down as the General Manager. A Rockies lifer since 1999, Schmidt had risen from scouting director to GM in 2021. He oversaw some dark years, including the Kris Bryant deal that will likely never pan out and persistent failures in pitching development. While he helped draft talents like Troy Tulowitzki, Charlie Blackmon, and Nolan Arenado in his earlier days, the recent results spoke louder. Ownership, led by Dick Monfort and his son Walker (now executive VP), promised an external hire—something the franchise hadn't done for a top baseball ops role in decades.

After a search that saw candidates like Amiel Sawdaye (Diamondbacks) and Matt Forman (Guardians) bow out, the Rockies landed Paul DePodesta as president of baseball operations in November. DePodesta's name rings bells for "Moneyball" fans—he was Billy Beane's right-hand man in Oakland, helped build contending Dodgers teams, and even served as GM there briefly. His detour to the NFL's Cleveland Browns as chief strategy officer added an unconventional twist, but his analytical approach and cross-sport experience made him an intriguing pick for a team desperate to escape old habits.

DePodesta didn't waste time. He reunited with Josh Byrnes, hiring him as general manager in early December. Byrnes, who'd spent the last decade-plus with the Dodgers overseeing scouting and player development, brings four World Series rings (2004, 2020, 2024, 2025) and prior GM stints with Arizona and San Diego. Interestingly, Byrnes had a brief early-career stop with the Rockies back in the late '90s and early 2000s. The duo's history goes way back to Cleveland's front office in the '90s, giving them a shorthand that's already showing in their collaborative vibe.

The hires kept rolling in. Tommy Tanous and, most recently as of writing this article, Ian Levin joins Colorado as assistant GMs—both with deep Mets backgrounds in scouting and development. Matt Daniels, a young analytics-minded pitching expert from the Twins, becomes director of pitching. On the business side, Nicky Schmidt stepped into a new revenue and strategy role from the Guardians. And the coaching staff saw a near-total refresh, especially on the pitching side: Alon Leichman (Marlins) as pitching coach, Gabe Ribas as assistant, and Matt Buschmann handling the bullpen—all praised for their modern methods in pitch design, tech integration, and player communication.

Manager Warren Schaeffer, who took over on an interim basis after Bud Black's firing and provided some late stability, was made permanent just before the Winter Meetings began earlier this month. Schaeffer's enthusiasm for the new pitching crew has been palpable; he called them "game-changers" who understand analytics, pitch shapes, and how to unlock new velocity or movement from arms.

Walker Monfort has been candid about the why. In interviews, he's pointed to direct feedback from fans, season-ticket holders, and even internal staff during the brutal 2025 campaign. The organization had grown insular—small analytics department, resistance to outside voices, loyalty to long-tenured execs. Dick Monfort, often criticized for meddling, seems to have loosened the reins and taken a back seat, granting DePodesta real autonomy, something Rockies fans have been desperately looking forward to.

The strategy boils down to this: Colorado has a glimmer of young talent—shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, gold glove outfielder Brenton Doyle, All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman, and a farm system that has sneaky good prospects ready to contribute. But the old regime couldn't crack pitching at altitude, struggled with roster depth, and lagged in modern evaluation tools. By importing executives from winning organizations (Dodgers, Mets, etc.), the Rockies aim to upgrade scouting, development, analytics, and decision-making across the board.

During the Rule 5 Draft at the Winter Meetings, the Rockies were able to snag towering reliever R.J. Petit with the No. 1 pick—a sign they're hunting for upside arms wherever they can.

Player moves? Mostly housekeeping so far—declining options, non-tenders, parting with young players like Warming Bernabel, Dugan Darnell, Drew Romo, and Michael Toglia. No big free-agent hauls yet, which tracks for a team evaluating what it has while keeping payroll flexible. DePodesta and Byrnes have stressed patience: assessing the young core, bridge with cost-effective vets, and build sustainably. They're open to trades, but the focus is internal growth first.

This feels different from previous Rockies administrations. For the first time in decades, the Rockies are injecting outsiders unburdened by organizational baggage. The average tenure of the new leadership group is a fraction of the old guard's. The house needed cleaning from the top.

Fans have suffered through empty promises and national punchlines. This front-office rebuild isn't the sexy kind. But it's foundational. If DePodesta, Byrnes, and crew can translate their expertise into better pitcher development, sharper trades, and a winning culture, the on-field pieces might finally fall into place.

As of mid-December 2025, with winter meetings in the rearview and more hires likely incoming, the Rockies are in uncharted territory. Results won't come quick and rebuilds rarely do, but at least there's a plan that doesn't feel like more of the "same old Rockies."