MLB rumors: Rockies hiring new head of baseball ops, Orioles kick off free agency, Don Mattingly moves on
Five days after the World Series, free agency is officially open for business
By
Dayn Perry
•
2 min read
The 2025-26 offseason in Major League Baseball is fully underway, which means we're gradually ticking off the dates on our offseason calendar. That also means a steady supply of rumors, most of which center on free agency and trades (along with the occasional hiring and firing). Speaking of which, you can find Thursday's supply just below.
DePodesta in line for Rockies job
The Colorado Rockies are still in search of a manager for 2026, but more fundamentally they're also in need of a lead decision-maker atop baseball operations. On that front, Paul DePodesta, the former Dodgers general manager and current exec for the NFL's Cleveland Browns, will be named to the post, according to The Athletic. The 52-year-old DePodesta, who first rose to prominence while working under Billy Beane with the Moneyball-era Oakland A's, was at the helm for the Dodgers for the 2004 and 2005 seasons before being dismissed. Then came front-office stints with the San Diego Padres and New York Mets. Since early 2016, he's served as chief strategy officer for the Browns.
The Rockies have logged seven straight losing seasons and in 2025 endured one of the worst seasons in MLB history with a record of 43-119. Along the way, they were outscored by more than 400 runs. Those depths prompted an ongoing effort to modernize the front office. In early October, general manager Bill Schmidt resigned his post after 26 years in the organization. The Rockies have not hired a lead executive from outside the organization for the first time since 1999, but DePodesta is poised to change that.
O's kick off free agency with Taveras signing
It's not a major signing, but it is indeed pairing of team and free agent, which means the offseason has arrived in earnest. The Orioles have reached an agreement with veteran outfielder Leody Taveras on a contract, reports MLB.com.
Taveras, 27, is a switch-hitter who can play center and has some speed on the bases. For his career, he has an OPS+ of 84 across parts of six MLB seasons with the Rangers and Mariners. He's likely to fill the fourth outfielder role in Baltimore for 2026.
Mattingly eyeing managerial vacancies?
Don Mattingly is leaving his post as the Blue Jays' bench coach coming off the team's World Series loss to the Dodgers, the team announced Thursday. The motivation isn't retirement but rather Mattingly's possible pursuit of a different job, according to the New York Post. At the time of the report, two remaining managerial vacancies remained, though the Padres have since hired former reliever Craig Stammen. The Rockies are still in need of a manager for 2026. Mattingly boasts plenty of managerial experience, as he previously skippered the Dodgers and then Marlins for a total of 12 seasons. Over that span, Mattingly amassed a record of 889-950 (.483) in the dugout and led the Dodgers to three straight division titles and the Marlins to a postseason berth during the abbreviated 2020 season.
