Rockies Begin Search for New GM after Schmidt‘s Departure
The Colorado Rockies have begun their search for a new General Manager following the dismissal of Bill Schmidt, an announcement made this morning. The move comes after a historically challenging season for the franchise.
This marks a shift in approach for the Rockies, who have previously filled their GM role by promoting from within, most recently with Schmidt and his predecessor, Jeff Bridich, both long-tenured members of the association.The decision to look outside the Rockies comes after the team endured its first three 100-loss seasons in franchise history.
While the team intends to broaden its search, owner Dick Monfort’s known preference for loyalty suggests a candidate with prior ties to the Rockies organization remains a possibility.
Early speculation has focused on Thad Levine, formerly the General Manager of the Minnesota Twins, who previously held a position within the Colorado front office from 1999 to 2005. Both Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post and MLB Network’s Jon Morosi have identified Levine as a potential candidate.
Levine, 53, has extensive experience in baseball operations, though he has never been the ultimate decision-maker. He served as the second-in-command to Derek Falvey, Chief Baseball Officer/President of Baseball Operations for the Twins, for eight seasons, stepping down after the 2024-25 offseason. Prior to his time in Minnesota, Levine spent over a decade as an Assistant general Manager with the Texas Rangers under Jon Daniels.
Levine was also considered for the Rockies’ GM position in 2021, before Schmidt was ultimately selected. He remained out of baseball operations during the most recent offseason, but has expressed interest in the open position with Colorado, according to reports from Morosi.
