LAS VEGAS – New Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta has immediate assignments of hiring a general manager and a field manager, plus setting policies to revamp information gathering and teaching throughout the organization. But the biggest duties – improving the talent, or making the talent better – will determine his success.
DePodesta touched on his early impressions of his new club – one coming off seven straight sub-.500 seasons, including 43-119 last year – on Tuesday during a media availability at the MLB General Managers Meetings.
Recent MLB Drafts are a strength
DePodesta is high on the initial picks the last two years – first baseman Charlie Condon (Rockies' No. 2 prospect, No. 61 overall), the third overall pick in 2024 who performed well in the Arizona Fall League, and shortstop Ethan Holliday (Rockies' No. 1 prospect, No. 19 overall) who was the fourth overall pick this year.
“The top picks from the last couple years are really interesting players – and it didn't matter that I was in the NFL, I knew who those guys were,” said a smiling DePodesta, who last week ended a decade with the Cleveland Browns to return to baseball.
The 2023 Draft produced three players already with the Rockies – closer Seth Halvorsen (seventh round), who debuted in ‘24; and two who debuted in ‘25, right-handed starter Chase Dollander (first round, ninth overall) and third baseman Kyle Karros (fifth round).
“There are a couple other guys in there that are interesting, as well,” DePodesta said. “There's this group of interesting players from different Drafts.”
Experience has to be part of the program
In 2024-25, the Rockies used a whopping 19 players who played at Double-A Hartford in those last two years – an experience level that made it impossible to compete. While improving pitching, which involves finding experience, is the top priority, the team could also use seasoned players all over the field.
“Young players need to be able to learn from others,” DePodesta said. “They need to be shown a standard of what it should take to play at the big league level. And I really believe that the best-case scenario is that young players earn their spot on the big league team. They don't just get it, because that's all you have. Sometimes, that’s the reality – you don't necessarily have veterans everywhere.
“But I do think it would be important to have some of those voices in the clubhouse, for the culture and even for the development of the young players.”
There is more than one way to build a squad
Lineups almost entirely made up of homegrown players make for wonderful stories when a team wins. But such rosters more often are signs of depth so poor that players must be rushed. Player development remains important in DePodesta’s eyes, but he does not adhere to a strict cradle-to-Majors philosophy.
“Everybody wants to be great at scouting and player development – it really is the core foundation of almost every good organization. You have to be good at that,” he said. “But, boy, is it hard to do that exclusively – as your only means of creating a championship team.”
DePodesta oversaw amateur and international scouting as well as player development for the Mets when they went to the 2015 World Series. That was a mostly homegrown team, but there were acquisitions of pitchers Zack Wheeler and Noah Syndergaard when they were in the low Minors, and key trades and free-agent signings along the way.
Trade market likely to be scoured for rotation help
For immediate, experienced help for a rotation that posted a 6.65 ERA in 2025 (worst since ERA became an official stat in 1913), DePodesta likely will use areas of strength in the trade market.
“I want to stop short of naming a particular position group – I have one in mind, for sure – but I do think there’s some depth,” DePodesta said. “Now what I have to do is understand what the other 29 teams think, and what players they are attracted to from our organization. We need to be open-minded about that, and if we need to shift assets around – take a little away from this area to bolster another – then we’ll have to do that.”
There is intriguing depth in the outfield, starting with two-time Gold Glove-winning center fielder Brenton Doyle, a popular ask during the 2025 Trade Deadline. Both Doyle and Mickey Moniak turn 28 next year and Tyler Freeman (who can play in the infield) turns 27. Yanquiel Fernández, 22, finished the season in the Majors, and several MLB Pipeline Top 30 prospects are close – Cole Carrigg (No. 3), Jared Thomas (No. 8), Zach Veen (No. 11) and Sterlin Thompson (No. 15) are knocking at the door.