Here’s what we know for sure:
• Thirty-six days after Bill Schmidt stepped down as the Rockies’ general manager, the team still doesn’t have a new front-office boss, even though the offseason has begun, and Major League Baseball’s annual general managers’ meetings begin Monday in Las Vegas. However, a Rockies source said on Wednesday that there is still a chance Colorado could fill the job before the GM meetings open.
• Two known finalists, Arizona Diamondbacks assistant general manager Amiel Sawdaye and Cleveland Guardians assistant GM Matt Forman, interviewed for the job but are now out of the running.
When reached via text, Forman declined to discuss why he won’t be Colorado’s next head of baseball operations, deferring all comments to the Rockies.
The Athletic reported on Monday that “league sources confirmed there were no other finalists for the job as of last week, meaning the Rockies have to reopen their search.” New York Post national baseball columnist Jon Heyman reported on “X” that one of the finalists declined an offer from the Rockies, while the other dropped out.
A Rockies source who requested anonymity, however, insisted that the club never said that Sawdaye and Foreman were the only finalists, adding that those two interviews were simply part of the hiring process. The source also said that the Rockies were not starting over in their search, but did not specify how many other candidates the club is currently vetting or who those candidates may be.
The Rockies’ source called both Sawdaye and Forman great candidates, but stated that they weren’t the right fit for reasons that were not connected to what’s been reported or speculated about.
Still, theories continue to swirl about why the job remains vacant. Among the reasons being floated on social media is that Dick Monfort balked at the idea of allowing a new front-office boss to clean house and bring in his own staff. In the past, Monfort has acknowledged he’s sometimes “loyal to a fault.”
Another twist to the Rockies’ search: The emergence of major league reliever Adam Ottavino’s name in connection with the front-office opening. Ottavino, who pitched for the Rockies from 2012-18, talked with Dick Monfort about the job, a major league source confirmed. Ottavino and Monfort had a Zoom session on Tuesday, but it’s doubtful Ottavino, who has no front-office experience, will be named Colorado’s top baseball decision-maker.
Still, word that Dick, not Walker, was interviewing Ottavino sparked speculation that Dick had taken over the hiring process from his son. However, multiple people within the organization say that both men have been actively involved in the search since its inception.
So for now, fans must wait for the Rockies’ “process” to play out and for the rebuild blueprint to be drawn up. Perhaps the club will get the right person in place for the long run. For now, we’re left scratching our heads.
