On Friday afternoon, Colorado Rockies new general manager Josh Byrnes and president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta met with media via Zoom. During the course of the conversation, they answered a wide range of questions.Below are a few highlights.Yes, the Rockies can learn a few things from the DodgersByrnes: I’ve told a lot of people, and I think from day one with the Dodgers, we wanted to be a big-market team, use our spending power, but also be a small-market team and be very good in baseball operations — all things in there: scouting, development, performance, science, analytics, you name it. So I think that applies to all 30 teams, regardless of what your payroll capacity is. So we definitely believe I can bring that here, some of the things we did in baseball operations, just the nuts and bolts, the day-to-day. And really, most important, is picking the right players and then maxing out what they can do. And I think that was really one of our main focuses with the Dodgers.DePodesta and Byrnes are looking forward to taking on Coors Field — togetherByrnes: It was tough to leave, but I’ve known Paul for 30 years, and he and I have always embraced challenges. I think he’s brilliant. I think there’s a lot we can both bring to this, and also not just tell stories about what we’ve done, but create a new future for this franchise, which I think is arguably the most interesting in baseball, with the challenges.DePodesta: Josh and I over the years — I’m probably going to forget some things here because it’s been a while — but I think we’ve both been advanced scouts. We were both assistants in baseball operations. We’ve both run player-development scouting areas. We’ve both been assistant GMs. We’ve both been general managers.We’ve done a lot of the same jobs at different times in our careers and in different circumstances.But I also think because of those different circumstances, in different environments, we’ve had to attack those jobs very differently. So I think in that sense, we fill in each other’s gaps to a large degree. I think there’s also, certainly, what Josh has experienced over the course of the past 10 or 11 years fills in a significant gap for me over the course of that period of time in baseball.So, as it relates to, like, our exact division of labor, I told him this from the beginning: I see us as partners in this. I think we’re going to be involved in every part of the baseball operation. I truly think Josh is going to significantly impact everything we do in baseball operations. So that’s the major league team. It’s throughout player development. It’s amateur scouting. It’s professional scouting. It’s international. It’s research and development. He’s had experience in all those areas, and I think he’ll continue to influence all of those areas in this role as as general manager,They know there’s work aheadByrnes: Obviously 119 losses, there’s no sugar coating that. There’s a lot of work to do creating winning standards and getting the right talent top to bottom in the organization. But obviously there are [Rockies] players we’ve liked through the years, players we liked out of the draft. And other than figuring out how we can keep getting better, adding more talent, creating the right fits, there’s also just maxing out the players. Is there more we can get out of each and every player? And that discussion is critical. So it’s both. It’s taking an honest look at our roster, our minor-league talent base, constantly looking to improve it, how it fits together as a team, and maxing out the players. So I know that’s a very general answer, but I think I really would see it both ways: making sure we’re good at selecting and finding talent and good at maxing it out.DePodesta on the staff: I think there are a lot of really good people here. So while we were able to add Josh, I think the other things in my mind are probably more additive as opposed to feeling like you need to change a bunch of things or change a bunch of people. I think there are, like I said, a lot of really good, capable people here that are anxious to do some things differently and try to get this back on track. And I’m confident they’re going to be a part of that. So I think we will continue to make some additions, but I think that side of the ledger will be much more prominent than any subtractions.Byrnes on the players: I probably need to spend more time on the current roster with Paul, the people who’ve been here, Warren Schaeffer, et cetera, front office, to give you anything more than sort of other side of the field answers, although that might be what you’re asking.There are some guys that, like I said, we’ve liked over time, and you need more of them. You need more good players. And Paul and I have talked about it just conceptually, like raising the floor, like having a deeper team with fewer gaps, innings, plate appearances that are going to players that aren’t quite what we need. So there’s a lot of ways to start attacking it, but there’s definitely some talent in place, and some players over time that I know have piqued my interest and piqued the interest of the Dodgers.And then to reiterate, some of them, a couple, I know, to just sit down where that player is in his career, like, ‘Okay, how do we get you better?’ And let’s keep going. And I would say even that mentality, one of the many things that allow the Dodgers to be successful is the four sort of “certain Hall of Famers” on the roster never stop. They never stop pushing, trying. You know, ‘Shohei, can you steal 50 bases?’ ‘Mookie, can you play short?’ ‘Kersh, can you pitch with without your 95-mile-an-hour fastball?’ It’s a non-stop quest for improvement, and in their case, greatness. That’s really it. It has to come from the player, but we also have to support it and be right there with them.View LinkCommunication is keyDePodesta: One of the things I mentioned earlier, with both Josh and I, is that we’ve both overseen sort of multiple departments at once: scouting, player development, scouting, player development international, what have you. So it’s actually been our function to operate across those lines and to bring all those departments together and really operate as one, as opposed to operating as separate entities, which is the way they operated for a long time across a lot of different baseball organizations. So I think both of us are just very in-tune with that and just how incredibly important it is to communicate effectively across all these different areas.And then you look at the last, you know, 10-15, years in baseball, and just see the explosion in sheer size of front offices and player development systems, etc. And I think communication becomes just that much more important. So as we try to build one cohesive organization, as opposed to different departments, I thought it was important for all the senior leaders here to have that really as a significant part of their toolbox.Yes, they (probably) have sufficient resourcesDePodesta: I can say there’s been real energy behind investing in the baseball operation. So I won’t get into the details of exactly how we plan to allocate some of those funds and things like that, but I think there’s, there’s a real appetite for that. I think they realize that, or we all realize, that it’s a necessity in order to compete in today’s game. Josh and I may have been in situations with immense resources. We’ve also been in situations that have had lesser resources, also by a significant amount. So I think we feel very comfortable with what’s available here. And again, I think the mindset is that there’s a desire to invest pretty heavily on the on the baseball side.Look for more staff hirings soonDePodesta: On the on the staff front, we’re actively working — Josh and I, including some other folks here in the front office — actively working with Schaeff on helping to build out his staff. We’ve been in interviews all week with various staff members that will continue, probably through Orlando, but we hope to have some things in place here, probably within the next week. Not that the staff will necessarily be done at that point, but we’ll at least have some folks in place, and then we’re also continuing to talk to some potential front office people as well. And this week is a great opportunity for it with the Winter Meetings.A few observationsThese were a few of my takeaways from the presser — totally subjective observations on my part.DePodesta brought in Byrnes for a number of reasons, but perhaps the biggest is to shore up the PBO’s résumé from his time spent with the Cleveland Browns. And, look, if you’ve got a gap in your work history, why not look to a friend who’s worked on one of the most progressive and dominant teams in MLB?I did not sufficiently appreciate the absolute courage it took for Byrnes to leave a job that he clearly loved with a winning team. But moving from the World Series champs of the last two years to the historically bad Colorado Rockies, well, not just everyone would be willing to make that jump. On a similar note, I found it a bit jarring to hear Byrnes causally describing Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts. I mean, you’ve been reading “Ranking the Rockies.” The 2025 team was not good. And then I realized that is truly a new day.DePodesta and Byrnes clearly like each other. In addition to all that time they spent working together, when Byrnes was asked about job responsibilities, he joked that he’d told DePodesta that he wanted to be in charge of pickleball and lunch.Josh Byrnes has a beard and glasses. I tell you this not to state the obvious, but when the Zoom call started, it took me a minute to identify him with the clearly older pictures that have been available. So when you’re watching Winter Meetings coverage next week, keep that in mind. Meet Paul DePodestaLast week, Rockies social media dropped this five-minute video on X:Go behind-the-scenes for Paul DePodesta’s first day in Colorado 🏔️ pic.twitter.com/vTJtr75iep— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) December 3, 2025I’ve argued for a while that until the rebuild is further along, the new PBO would effectively be the face of the franchise. Clearly, DePodesta has embraced that role.Rockies are about to learn harsh lesson after poaching Dodgers executive for GM role | Dodgers WayYou should just read this one. I can’t do it justice.Rockies waive Drew Romo, Anthony Molina | Purple RowICYMI, yesterday, Romo and Molina were claimed by other teams. The move came as a surprise to Romo:Guys I’m very surprised too. Ever since I was drafted, it was my goal to bring the first World Series to Denver and I wasn’t able to do that. I’m sorry. But I’m so thankful for everything I’ve learned and all of the people and memories. Now time to bring the O’s their next chip!— Drew Romo (@drewromo23) December 5, 2025Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!