When the Colorado Rockies announced that general manager Bill Schmidt was leaving the team at the end of the season, the team pledged to look outside the organization to hire a replacement.

The Rockies didn't just go outside the organization. They went outside the baseball industry altogether.

More news: Ex-Yankees, Mets Hurler Unlikely to Land MLB General Manager Job

Longtime Cleveland Browns executive Paul DePodesta is the choice to succeed Schmidt, according to multiple reports Thursday . Bob Nightengale of USA Today mentioned the possibility earlier in the day.

According to Thomas Harding of MLB.com , the decision is expected as soon as Friday. The team has not yet confirmed the news.

Before he became the Browns' chief strategy officer in 2016, DePodesta worked in a

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