Rockies Turn to Paul DePodesta to Lead Baseball Operations After Record-Breaking Season

After one of the most difficult seasons in franchise history, the Colorado Rockies are taking bold steps to rebuild from the ground up. The organization finished the 2025 campaign with a league-worst 43–119 record — a low point that underscored the urgent need for systemic change. On Thursday, the Rockies made their most decisive move yet, reaching an agreement with Paul DePodesta, the Cleveland Browns’ chief strategy officer and a longtime baseball executive, to lead their baseball operations.

Early reports from ESPN’s Jeff Passan noted that while negotiations were ongoing, both sides were close to finalizing a deal. Within hours, The Athletic confirmed that an agreement had been reached, bringing DePodesta back to Major League Baseball after nearly a decade away. The move instantly drew attention across the sports world, given DePodesta’s reputation as one of the early architects of baseball’s analytics revolution.

For the 52-year-old executive, the Rockies job marks both a homecoming and a formidable challenge. Colorado has long struggled to compete in the National League West, hampered by roster inefficiencies and the unique difficulties of playing at high altitude. DePodesta’s arrival suggests that the Rockies are finally ready to embrace data-driven decision-making — a philosophy he helped pioneer decades ago.

“In a stunning career shift, Paul DePodesta soon will leave the Cleveland Browns to become the Colorado Rockies’ head of baseball operations,” The Athletic reported. “After years in football, DePodesta is heading back to the sport that made him a visionary figure.”

1. From “Moneyball” to Modern Baseball

For many fans, DePodesta’s name is synonymous with “Moneyball,” the best-selling book and film that chronicled the Oakland Athletics’ early 2000s rise under then–general manager Billy Beane. Jonah Hill’s character, Peter Brand, was based on DePodesta’s real-life role as Beane’s assistant GM — a young Harvard-educated thinker who helped revolutionize player evaluation by using statistical analysis to find undervalued talent. DePodesta began his baseball career as an intern with the Cleveland Guardians (then Indians) before joining the Athletics in 1999. His innovative approach to scouting and roster construction reshaped not only the A’s but the sport as a whole. In the years that followed, he held key front-office roles with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and New York Mets. His emphasis on analytics, efficiency, and long-term planning became standard practice across Major League Baseball. What was once considered a radical new strategy is now embedded in nearly every team’s operations — a testament to DePodesta’s influence. Now, with his return to baseball, DePodesta inherits one of the sport’s most complex projects. The Rockies have struggled to build consistent success, often leaning on traditional scouting and gut-based decisions rather than analytics. His challenge will be to modernize the organization without alienating its traditional roots.

2. Bridging the Gap Between Innovation and Identity

DePodesta’s time in football, particularly with the Cleveland Browns, may offer valuable lessons for his next chapter. As the Browns’ chief strategy officer since 2016, he applied analytical principles to roster management and coaching decisions, helping the franchise move from years of dysfunction to playoff contention. His cross-sport experience could help the Rockies bridge a gap between theory and execution — turning data into competitive advantage. Within MLB circles, his hiring represents a clear signal that the Rockies want to reshape their internal structure. Colorado has often been criticized for being slow to adapt to modern methods, lagging behind organizations like the Dodgers, Rays, and Astros in analytics investment. DePodesta’s arrival changes that narrative overnight, giving the club a proven innovator with experience transforming underperforming teams. While his reputation for discipline and long-term vision is well established, success in Colorado will not come easily. The Rockies must navigate the challenges of Coors Field, where altitude affects pitching, defense, and player health. Building a sustainable roster under those conditions will require not only statistical insight but also creativity and patience. Still, DePodesta’s track record suggests he thrives under precisely these circumstances. His work has always centered on finding inefficiencies and creating value where others see limitations — a skill set that could redefine what’s possible for the Rockies franchise.

3. Looking Toward a Smarter Future

As DePodesta steps into his new role, the Rockies find themselves at a pivotal moment. The organization has spent years searching for stability amid disappointing results and front-office turnover. Now, with a respected executive at the helm, they appear ready to embrace the analytical era that has reshaped modern baseball. Fans may need to temper expectations in the short term. Transforming a franchise that just endured one of the worst seasons in MLB history will take time, and DePodesta is known for emphasizing process over quick fixes. Yet, his arrival brings something the Rockies have not had in years — credibility and a clear direction. If he can replicate even a fraction of the success he helped engineer in Oakland and Cleveland, Colorado could emerge as one of baseball’s most intriguing long-term projects. The move also underscores how far analytics has come — from an outsider concept to the cornerstone of competitive strategy across all professional sports. For now, the Rockies’ decision to hire Paul DePodesta represents a bold investment in change. It’s a bet on intellect, innovation, and the belief that the future of baseball still belongs to those willing to think differently.