Rockies Front Office Search Reeks of Owner Meddling

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The Colorado Rockies were expected to name their new head of baseball operations this week. Following the departure of Bill Schmidt in early October, the organization announced that Walker Monfort would lead the search for an outside hire to guide the team.

After a historically poor 2025 season in which the Rockies lost 119 games and set multiple undesirable records, fans hoped the front office would finally recognize the need for significant change. As postseason play continued, reports surfaced that two prominent assistant general managers—Amiel Sawdaye of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Matt Forman of the Cleveland Guardians—had advanced as finalists for the position.

However, as the World Series concluded, both candidates abruptly exited the hiring process. Reports from multiple sources, including MLB insider Jon Heyman, suggested that one candidate declined an offer while the other withdrew entirely. With the offseason underway and the GM Meetings in Las Vegas approaching, the Rockies once again appear disorganized and directionless. League sources indicated to Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic that owner Dick Monfort was directly involved in interviews despite claims that Walker Monfort was leading the search. While it is not uncommon for an owner to participate in the hiring of a top executive, Dick Monfort’s reputation for excessive interference has fueled skepticism. His continued involvement appears to have undermined the process, perpetuating a long history of micromanagement.

Since assuming majority ownership alongside his brother in 2005, Monfort has consistently expanded his authority within the organization. Following team president Keli McGregor’s death in 2010, Monfort assumed many of McGregor’s responsibilities until promoting Greg Feasel to club president in 2021. He later elevated his son Walker to that role in 2025.

Monfort’s decision-making has often prioritized marketing over baseball operations. He reportedly pushed for the signing of Kris Bryant merely a year after trading Nolan Arenado, aiming to preserve a marketable “face” for the franchise. Moreover, Monfort has been known to veto trades and block organizational restructuring, further cementing his reputation for control. Troy Renck of The Denver Post reported that prospective executives may have balked at restrictions on personnel autonomy. Such reports align with Monfort’s history of resisting outside influence. According to DNVR’s Christian Saez, a representative for one finalist revealed that negotiations stalled because the Rockies refused to commit to hiring new staff amid fears of a potential 2027 lockout. If accurate, such hesitation exemplifies a leadership philosophy rooted in short-term financial caution rather than competitive ambition. Operating in fear of future labor uncertainty, Monfort continues to delay necessary reforms while publicly lamenting financial disadvantages compared to larger-market teams.

The organization’s lack of urgency threatens to further erode its credibility. With each failed search, the Rockies reinforce the perception that ownership values control and profitability over progress. Until Monfort relinquishes operational authority to qualified baseball professionals, Colorado is unlikely to attract the leadership it desperately needs.

The 2025 season exposed the failures of the current regime, and this offseason’s dysfunction underscores the same pattern. The Rockies’ continued stagnation reflects a leadership unwilling to evolve. If Dick Monfort insists on dictating every aspect of team operations, he might as well name himself general manager and end the illusion of a functioning front office.