On Wednesday, the Colorado Rockies announced they have hired Josh Byrnes as their general manager. The Rockies’ front office continues to take shape as President of Baseball Operations Paul DePodesta has found his right-hand man.
Josh Byrnes Hired as Rockies GM
Byrnes began his career in a major league front office when he interned for the Cleveland Indians in 1994. He eventually rose to scouting director with Cleveland in 1998, before going to Colorado, where he was assistant general manager from 2000-02. He was then the Boston Red Sox assistant general manager in 2003-04, before landing his first job as a GM with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Josh Byrnes, former Diamondbacks and Padres general manager, will be the Rockies GM under president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta, sources tell me and @dennistlin. Byrnes has been the Dodgers’ senior vice president of baseball operations since 2014.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 3, 2025
Byrnes served as the GM in Arizona from 2005-10, before serving as the San Diego Padres GM from 2011-14. Since then, he has been the senior vice president of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Jeff Bridich (2014-21) and Bill Schmidt (2021-25) most recently served as GMs for the Rockies. It largely did not go well, as the Rockies made just two postseason appearances under Bridich and Schmidt, 2017-18. The era under both was defined by questionable decisions, inaction at the trade deadline, and the first 100+ loss seasons in the history of the Rockies’ franchise.
Welcome (back) to Colorado, Josh! pic.twitter.com/qUIt71PMBv
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) December 3, 2025
New Era in Colorado
So, after trying the same thing over and over again with the same results, the Rockies are starting anew by attempting a two-pronged approach in the front office. With DePodesta serving as the lead man as the POBO, Byrnes will complement him as the GM. It is a reunion for the pair, as they worked together in Cleveland’s front office from 1996-98.
It was hard to believe that the Rockies would actually hire an outside voice to lead the front office for the first time in over 20 years. But Walker Monfort, executive vice president of the Rockies, got that ball rolling when he hired DePodesta, and now they have two outside voices to lead their organization. Byrnes spoke to Thomas Harding of MLB.com about returning to Colorado:
“I’m thrilled to be returning to the Rockies organization, especially at such an exciting time for the future of the franchise,” said Byrnes. “Working alongside Paul again is an incredible opportunity, and I’m eager to join him and the rest of the group as we work to bring championship-caliber baseball to the Rockies.”
Main Photo Credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
