DENVER – The Rockies are close to hiring Paul DePodesta – a longtime baseball executive and current chief strategy officer for the NFL’s Cleveland Browns – as their new head of baseball operations, according to a Major League source.

The decision is expected as soon as Friday, though the team has not yet confirmed the news. DePodesta, 52, is expected to replace Bill Schmidt, who stepped down as general manager at the end of the 2025 season. DePodesta – best known as assistant to Athletics general manager Billy Beane during the “Moneyball” era and as the Dodgers’ general manager from 2004-05, is expected to make additional hires as the Rockies beef up their front office.

The move comes with the MLB General Managers Meetings beginning on Monday in Las Vegas.

DePodesta moved to the NFL’s

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