Rockies Management Feeling Hopeful at 2025 Winter Meetings

Orlando, FL – After several winters of ticky-tack moves by the Colorado Rockies and GM Bill Schmidt, a new front office with an interest in innovation and diligence is giving fans back in Denver something of substance.

Full-time manager Warren Schaeffer and President of Baseball Operation Paul DePodesta shuttled back and forth the halls of Signia by Hilton Bonnet Creek and the Waldorf Astoria Orlando between appearances with Denver media, MLB Network and satellite radio.

Schaeffer was first to offer his thoughts on Colorado’s new regime, who have cleared familiar talents such Michael Toglia, Drew Romo and Warming Bernabel from the 40-man roster in recent weeks.

“I like the establishment of a direction,” the 40-year-old said. “Paul has a different process than what we were previously used to. It’s a good process.”

First Base Situation

Losing 119 games more than suggests a flawed roster lacking talent. It’s one of the reasons only a handful of players can be counted on to return in the same capacity next season. Hunter Goodman, Ezequiel Tovar and Brenton Doyle — all up-the-middle stars — can safely be assured a starting role amongst the position players.

Competition everywhere else is what Colorado’s powers-that-be envision for 2026.

“I think that [competition is] something that we’re going to embrace,” Schaeffer said. “And the players will love the option, the ability to come into spring training and fight for a job. As a coaching staff, I think that’s easy to facilitate. It’s not difficult. The players kind of take care of that themselves.”

First base is another of those positions up for grabs. Blaine Crim, who produced an .851 OPS in 15 September contests, and Charlie Condon, the 2024 Golden Spikes Award winner and 3rd overall pick that year, are options being touted by the club.

However, all signs point to Colorado looking to add from players not currently within their organization. 

“I have a couple meetings today with some guys who represent some first basemen, so I think that’s certainly a possibility,” DePodesta said Monday evening.

Pete Alonso remains the cream of the crop in free agency, even more so after Josh Naylor signed a five-year, $92.5 million deal to return to the Seattle Mariners. Ryan O’Hearn, Nathaniel Lowe, Luis Arraez, Rhys Hoskins and Josh Bell all appear as viable choices for Colorado.

There’s also 38-year-old Paul Goldschmidt, who has the second-most RBI (81) and sixth-most home runs (18) in the history of Coors Field amongst visiting players. His 26 doubles trail only the new member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Jeff Kent.

Despite the strong front being made about Crim and Condon, the Rockies are going to add a first baseman, right?

“We can’t put a roof on anything we’re trying to do right now. I think that’s absolutely a possibility,” Schaeffer said. 

Trade Scenarios

According to DePodesta, who’s spent a decade away from baseball after a long stint with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, the other 29 MLB front offices are looking to take advantage of the new guy when it comes to trade discussions.

Brenton Doyle, a popular name that was discussed at last year’s trade deadline, should have an even better market following an August that made him look a lot more like the player that hit 23 homers and stole 30 bases a season prior in 2024. Coupled with a shortage of right-handed hitting outfielders, dealing Doyle and his four years of club control could help jumpstart a Rockies rebuild.

“What we’ve basically told everybody is,” DePodesta said of untouchable players, “I think we have to be open-minded, right?”

Regardless of which players Colorado considers moving in a trade, rest assured some starting pitching will be coming back.

“I would say first and foremost, probably like everybody we’re looking for starting pitching,” DePodesta. “It’s an area of focus. It’s an area where I think we have room to improve, certainly off of last year’s club.

More Personnel Changes

Schaeffer was enthusiastic about his early communication with DePodesta and the team’s new General Manager Josh Byrnes.

“They both have a wealth of knowledge and backgrounds that they can pull from, and yet they they want to hear what you have to say. And it’s clearly a collaborative effort. So it seems like it’s gonna be a fun group to work with.”

When pressed about news on his coaching staff without sharing any details, Schaeffer was coy.

“We’re making strides behind closed doors,” Schaeffer said. “There’s been a lot of time spent on staff the past 10 days or so. It’s starting to shake up.”

A few hours later, Thomas Harding of MLB.com broke the news that Colorado would be hiring Alon Leichman as the team’s pitching coach.

An assistant pitching coach in 2025 with the Miami Marlins and in 2023-24 with the Cincinnati Reds, the 33-year-old from Israel brings a fresh perspective and innovative approach the Rockies so desperately need.

Spring Considerations

Both DePodesta and Schaeffer reiterated the need for competition in 2026. Other than the aforementioned Goodman, Tovar and Doyle, every other place on the diamond will see camp battles in spring.

“I am a believer in competition, right? I think competition does bring out the best in players,” DePodesta said. “So I think it’s always good to have that type of competition.”

Eight different players saw time at second base in 2025. Five featured at the keystone in 17 games with none more than 41. Only Adael Amador, Ryan Ritter, and Tyler Freeman remain.

“I think we actually have a couple interesting internal options there,” DePodesta said of second base. “There are also some free agents we’ve talked to about it. But I actually feel pretty good about what we’ll be able to do there going forward.”

Righting the ship will be more than just maximizing the current talent and improving with those from outside the organization. According to Schaeffer, righting the ship is something already in progress, continuing once everyone comes together at Salt River Fields in February.

“It’s in the offseason, the culture we’re trying to develop,” he told MLB Network Radio. “Putting the staff together and then changing that culture in Spring Training to focus on the details, to push forward a different way to plan. All this stuff that we can come together and create something great moving into the start of the season. (I have) full confidence that’s going to happen.”