On Wednesday morning the Colorado Rockies announced that general manager and longtime member of the Rockies organization Bill Schmidt will not return to the organization for the 2026 season.
“After a number
of conversations, we decided it is time for me to step aside and make way for a new voice to guide the club’s baseball operations,” said Schmidt. “It’s been an honor to serve in the Rockies family for over 25 years. I’m thankful to the Monfort family for the opportunity, to my family for their constant support, and our staff for their tireless dedication. Better seasons are ahead for the Rockies and our great fans, and I look forward to seeing it come to life in the years ahead.”
Schmidt’s resignation comes following the conclusion of arguably the worst season in franchise history. The Rockies finished with a 43-119 record, a historically bad -424 run differential, and set plenty of dubious records in the history books of Major League Baseball.
Schmidt, 66, first joined the Rockies in 1999 as the director of their scouting department and was promoted to vice president of scouting in 2007. He had also been in charge of the Rockies’ draft process since 2000. Schmidt previously worked with the Cleveland Guardians, New York Yankees, and Cincinnati Reds before coming to Colorado.
Schmidt was named interim general manager in 2021 following the resignation of Jeff Bridich, and was fully appointed to the role at the end of that season. His tenure has been a difficult one for the organization. The Rockies’ .355 winning percentage under Schmidt is the worst under any general manager in team history and includes three consecutive 100-loss seasons culminating in this year’s historically woeful campaign.
Schmidt’s departure is the most notable in a season of changes for the Rockies. Longtime manager Bud Black and his bench coach Mike Redmond were relieved of their duties in May with Warren Schaeffer being named interim manager. Hitting coach Hensley Meulens was also terminated early in the season.
It also comes during a tumultuous time in franchise history where people both within and outside of the organization are clamoring for change.
“As with any transition, Bill’s departure allows our club to seek a new leader of our baseball department experienced in areas where we need to grow within the operation,” said Rockies owner Dick Monfort. “A new voice will benefit our organization as we work towards giving our fans the competitive team they deserve.”
Refreshingly, it appears the Rockies will be searching outside of the organization for their next general manager.
“We are setting our sights on finding the right leader from outside our organization who can bring a fresh perspective to the Rockies and enhance our baseball operations with a new vision, innovation, and a focus on both short and long-term success,” said Rockies executive vice president Walker Monfort. “This change delivers an opportunity to shape the future of our club and move forward into a new era of Rockies baseball.”
This is a developing story and Purple Row will provide more information as it becomes available.
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