The Latest Trap Door for Rockies Fans

Rockies Begin Thorny Search for New GM

There’s Always a Trap Door Waiting

Several professional sports fan bases have become cynical due to egregious mismanagement by their respective front offices. It’s a close tie with Cleveland Browns fans, but perhaps none of these fan bases can claim that crown more than Rockies fans. The breaking point was when franchise star Nolan Arenado was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for a cup of coffee in 2021. It has been nothing but more suffering since then.

So, after a historically bad season, it seemed too good to be true that the Rockies’ ownership would finally listen. It proved too good to be true when it was announced on Monday, November 3, that the top two candidates, Arizona Diamondbacks assistant GM Amiel Sawdaye and Cleveland Guardians’ assistant GM Matt Forman, were no longer in the running. The trap door had appeared. Instead of finally being praised by its peers for a common-sense decision, Colorado is now in the news for all the wrong reasons yet again.

The Rockies appear hapless without a clear direction. Schmidt was let go on October 1, giving the organization plenty of time to find a quality candidate. Or so it seemed. The offseason isn’t going to wait. It now feels like an inevitability that the Rockies will make a rushed decision. Like a college kid who procrastinated for a month and now their final is tomorrow.

Rockies Don’t Have the Luxury of Time

Until another outside name is mentioned, this is a very nerve-wracking time for Rockies fans. The GM meetings start in five days, and decisions are already being made by the Rockies, still without a GM. Thairo Estrada, who was limited to 39 games this past season due to injury, had his mutual option for 2026 declined by the Rockies on Monday. However, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reported that Estrada remains on the roster as he is still eligible for arbitration.

But the future of the 29-year-old second baseman is one of the most important decisions facing the Rockies this offseason. Yes, Estrada would be one of the oldest players on a very young Rockies’ club. But behind him, there is very little experience, and the Rockies would be in a tight spot if there are injuries this season. Estrada’s future is a decision that the new GM should be making as they build their vision for the Rockies next season. More moves happened on Wednesday. Kris Bryant and right-handed reliever Jeff Criswell were activated from the 60-day injured list. Additionally, first Baseman/outfielder Troy Johnston was signed off waivers from the Miami Marlins.

These are moves that seem relatively minor on the surface. But they are only going to get bigger and more important with each passing day. The Rockies’ current situation is rare in professional sports. Finalists are called finalists for a reason. The end is near in the hiring process, and one of the “finalists” will get the position. But sadly, the Rockies thrive at doing the opposite of what everyone else does. Being an outlier is the Rockies’ specialty. The important question now is, what outside candidate would even want this position after the debacle with Sawdaye and Forman?

Hold Your Breath Time in Colorado

Executive Vice President Walker Monfort was quoted in October as saying that the Rockies would look outside the organization for its new head of baseball operations.

“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,” Monfort said. “This change delivers an opportunity to shape the future of our club and move forward into a new era of Rockies baseball.”

The Rockies need more than a new voice at GM. This includes an overhaul of their bare-bones analytics staff to catch up to the rest of the league. But a new GM would be a great place to start. Making matters worse for the Rockies, however, is that there is now no known candidate for the position.

Who Is in the Running?

The only name that has been mentioned since the news that Sawdaye and Forman were no longer in the running? Adam Ottavino, the 39-year-old right-hander who was a reliever for Colorado from 2012-18. A name completely out of the blue, who even pitched in three games this season for the New York Yankees!

Unlikely but not impossible. It would come as no surprise if it is announced in the next couple of days that Ottavino landed the position. Monfort would fulfill his quote with a loophole. Technically, Ottavino would be a hire outside of the organization because he has played on the East Coast since 2019. But he is still a part of the Rockies’ family, the most insular organization in baseball.

No offense to Ottavino, who is one of the greatest relievers in Rockies’ history. But hiring Ottavino, who literally played this season and has zero experience in an MLB front office, would not inspire a lot of confidence. The Rockies need a lot of front office experience to even begin to fix a franchise coming off one of the worst seasons in MLB history. For the Rockies’ own sake and more importantly Ottavino’s, please don’t go further down this road.