After a whirlwind week that sent Colorado Rockies fans and media into a bit of a frenzy, the team announced yesterday that they are expecting to hire ‘Moneyball’ analytics guru Paul DePodesta to head up
their baseball operations department.
According to Mike Klis, DePodesta will be named as the President of Baseball Operations and is expected to hire a general manager and additional front office staff. This comes after reports that two of the Rockies other finalists — Amiel Sawdaye and Matt Forman — exited the search, and at least one of them reportedly declined because the Rockies did not want to offer new contracts to new front office staff and have to pay them with an anticipated lockout in 2027.
It seems as though Dick Monfort changed his mind.
While the search for a potential GM seems to have started, it’s also time to set our sights in the dugout. The Rockies can function in 2026 without a GM, but they can’t without a new manager. There is, of course, one obvious name that comes to mind, especially if the Rockies are indeed looking to limit new contracts: Warren Schaeffer.
I’ve made my case before as to why Schaeffer should be hired, but now that we know a bit more about the direction of the 2026 Colorado Rockies, I’m here today to identify the pros and cons of his continuation at the helm.
Pros
- Continuity: The 2026 Rockies will once again be a very young team. In fact, they might be even younger than their 2025 roster, considering they did not bring back Kyle Farmer, Thairo Estrada or Orlando Arcia. 2025 also saw a record 13 rookies make their MLB debuts for the Rockies. Schaeffer has been upfront about how much he enjoys teaching, and this is a team that needs a lot of teaching, especially if they aren’t planning any major roster overhauls.
- Communication Skills: Schaeffer is an excellent communicator, both with the players and the media. It was something numerous players cited in interviews, and something we all noticed as media. He was generally positive, but wasn’t afraid to have tough conversations. More importantly, the players really responded to him. (“I’d run through a brick wall for him,” Blaine Crim said in September, “and I’ve only known him for a week.”) And considering how young and underdeveloped this team is — and how much they have to learn both about being men and about being Major League Baseball players — it might not be a bad idea to keep Schaeffer around to help them continue to settle in. Additionally, he grew throughout the season in how he addressed the media. He admitted that working with a media corps was not something he had done at other levels, but he learned how to articulate what he needed to the media, and he knew exactly how to consistently get his point across by the end of the season.
- Organizational Familiarity: Warren Schaeffer has been with the Rockies since the day he was drafted in 2007. He played in the minors for six years before turning to coaching, and then worked himself all the way up to major-league manager. He is intimately familiar with how the Rockies operate — their failures, their successes, their immediate needs and things that will take time. And after being thrown into the fire of managing in 2025, he is even more familiar with what needs to be done to field a successful team.
- Potential Cost: If the Rockies bring in an outside manager, they will have to pay an outside manager. Given that Dick Monfort is seemingly tightening up all the purse strings ahead of a presumed lockout, this might cost him more than he wants. Warren Schaeffer deserves a raise if he is to become the full-time manager in 2026, but he is still probably cheaper than any big swings they take on an outside hire.
Cons
- Relative Inexperience: Schaeffer will be the first to remind everyone that he never played Major League Baseball. He made it as high as Triple-A in 2013 before hanging up his player uniform in place of a coach’s uniform. Additionally, he has only spent three full years at the MLB level in any coaching capacity. In 2025, he managed 122 out of 162 games. This is not to say Schaeffer can’t lead this team — and he did well last year — but his inexperience is concerning if the Rockies want to be competitive anytime soon.
- Managerial Record: As an MLB manager in 2025, Schaeffer led the Rockies to a 36-86 record (.295) in 122 games. Prior to that, he managed three different levels of the Rockies’ farm system. In three years with the Low-A Asheville Tourists, he went 206-209 (.496); in two years with the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats, he went 138-138 (.500); and in two years with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, he went 120-158 (.432). He also managed the 2022 Salt River Rafters, who finished with a 12-18 record. Granted, the 2025 Rockies were a dumpster fire to say the least, and there was a lot of work to be done, but Schaeffer has only posted two winning records in eight seasons at the helm of any team and only took his team to the postseason once in his very first year.
- Organizational Tenure: Just as his organizational familiarity could be a strength, it could also be a detriment. We all know how insular this organization is and how much they like to promote from within. Keeping Schaeffer would be another instance of sticking with the status quo.
Closing Thoughts
It’s really a coin toss as to whether or not Warren Schaeffer will be the manager in 2026. The raw numbers might argue against him, but the intangibles argue for him.
But either way, it is a decision Paul DePodesta will need to make soon.
Arizona Fall League
Surprise Saguaros 8, Salt River Rafters 0
On the day where the Arizona Fall Stars roster was announced, the Rafters were blanked at the hands of the Saguaros, 8-0. Incidentally, the only Rockies prospect who played this evening was RHP Jack Mahoney (HM PuRP). Mahoney only pitched 2 2/3 innings, but allowed four runs on six hits with two strikeouts. He was tagged with the loss, bringing his record to 0-1 with a 5.74 ERA.
Rockies part with Estrada, claim righty Acton from Rays | MLB.com
In the midst of yesterday’s chaos, the Rockies continued their roster construction. This time, it was reported that Thairo Estrada elected free agency after having his option declined and being outrighted off the MLB roster. Additionally, they claimed 27-year-old right-handed reliever Garrett Acton off waiver from the Tampa Bay Rays.
Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman wins NL Silver Slugger | Purple Row
Also in the midst of the chaos, Hunter Goodman beat out Will Smith for the NL catching Silver Slugger. What a year for Hunter!
Kyle Newman gives you all the details of the Rockies new executive.
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