The Colorado Rockies announced Friday morning that they have named long-time football and baseball executive Paul DePodesta as their new head of baseball operations. Effective immediately, DePodesta will
take the title of president of baseball operations.
“I have always kept my eye on baseball and this is an incredible opportunity to help make an impact in the next chapter of the Rockies,” DePodesta said in a Rockies press release. “Building a consistent winner here is a shared goal and one that I am eager to embrace alongside Rockies leaders, staff, players, and fans. I am ready for the challenge and excited to get started immediately.”
DePodesta has previously worked in the Cleveland Guardians, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and New York Mets organizations in a variety of front office roles. He has been serving as the chief strategy officer of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns since 2016.
“Today is an exciting day for the Rockies organization as we welcome Paul as our new president of baseball operations,” said Rockies owner and CEO Dick Monfort. “Paul was the very first person we interviewed, and throughout our conversations with him Walker and I were both intrigued by his understanding of the game, his positive attitude, his process-based mindset and his influence on the game. This is a special guy with great vision and a great plan. He is a winner and he is going to win in Colorado.”
DePodesta emerged as a surprise candidate on Thursday afternoon as multiple sources reported the Rockies were close to hiring him. His name had not been previously mentioned during the Rockies’ secretive search for their new head of baseball operations. The two other finalists were believed to have been Amiel Sawdaye of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Matt Forman of the Cleveland Guardians. It was reported that one turned down an offer for the position while the other withdrew his candidacy.
Other potential candidates during the search were James Click of the Toronto Blue Jays and Scott Sharp of the Kansas City Royals.
DePodesta is expected to lead the Rockies front office as the team looks to modernize and find their footing following seven consecutive losing seasons that included three straight campaigns with 100 or more losses. The skid culminated in a historically bad year in which the Rockies finished 43-119.
It has been reported that DePodesta will hire a general manager and additional front office personnel from outside the organization.
“Hiring Paul is an essential first step to the evolution of our baseball department and we’re confident that he will not only maximize our current personnel but will also bring in additional leaders from outside the organization to help lead us forward,” said team executive vice president Walker Monfort.
DePodesta will attend the general manager meetings in Las Vegas next week before being formally introduced next Thursday at Coors Field.
This is a developing story and Purple Row will provide updates as they become available.
