Paul DePodesta Reportedly Leaving Browns to Lead Rockies Baseball Operations
According to Ken Rosenthal, Zac Jackson, and Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic, Cleveland Browns chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta is set to leave his position to become the head of baseball operations for the Colorado Rockies.
Career Background
DePodesta joined the Browns in January after a long career in Major League Baseball. Before his NFL transition, he worked for the Cleveland Indians from 1996 to 1998 and then became the assistant general manager for the Oakland Athletics in 1999. His innovative work with the A's was highlighted in Michael Lewis' book Moneyball, which inspired the 2011 Academy Award–nominated film.
In 2004, DePodesta became the general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, a position he held for two seasons before parting ways with the team in 2005. He later held front-office roles with the San Diego Padres and New York Mets before moving to the Browns organization.
Challenges Ahead in Colorado
DePodesta inherits a struggling Rockies franchise that has endured seven consecutive losing seasons, including an abysmal 43–119 record in 2025. The club has lost more than 100 games in each of the past three years.
"Turning this franchise around is a tall order for DePodesta, to say the least."
The Rockies compete in the fiercely competitive NL West, home to the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the consistently strong San Diego Padres. DePodesta’s extensive experience and analytical mindset may prove crucial as he attempts to rebuild the team from the ground up.
Author’s Summary
Paul DePodesta, known for his pioneering analytical approach, takes on the challenge of revitalizing the struggling Colorado Rockies after years in both MLB and the NFL.