Rox tab scouting VP Schmidt as interim GM

DENVER -- Bill Schmidt, who has run the Rockies’ MLB Draft since 2000 and has more than 30 years of scouting experience, was chosen Monday as the Rockies’ interim general manager.

Schmidt replaces Jeff Bridich, who resigned a week ago during his seventh season as GM. The Rockies have announced that they will fill Bridich’s post after the regular season.

"After discussions with the baseball department heads, we have come to the conclusion that Bill is the right person for interim GM," said president Greg Feasel. “Bill’s experience and his relationships from top to bottom throughout our organization, including the players, coaches and staff on the field, more than qualify him for this role.”

Schmidt takes over at a key time for the Rockies. The team hoped to outperform expectations that were lowered when star third baseman Nolan Arenado was traded to the Cardinals before Spring Training. However, the Rockies entered Monday night’s game against the Giants at 10-18, and tied for the second-fewest victories in the Majors.

Questions such as whether trades of standouts like shortstop Trevor Story, pitcher Jon Gray and relief pitcher Mychal Givens -- all are eligible for free agency this coming offseason -- will have to be addressed as this season’s Trade Deadline approaches, especially if the Rockies continue to struggle.

Schmidt and a Rockies scouting department that has been stable -- Bridich added to it during his term -- will be leaned upon heavily, since information on not only current Rockies but all players has been collected since their amateur days.

Schmidt came to the Rockies as head of the scouting department on Oct. 1, 1999, from Cleveland, where he had served four seasons as a national crosschecker. The Rockies promoted him to a VP position on Jan. 2, 2007.

In 2019, Schmidt received the West Coast Scout of the Year Award during the 2019 Baseball Winter Meetings, and he received the Legends in Scouting Award at the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation annual gala in 2019.

Schmidt began his scouting career with the Reds (1982-84), worked for the MLB Scouting Bureau (1987-88), and then the Yankees (1988-95) as supervisor for the Southern California, Arizona and Nevada regions.

Schmidt also coached at the high school, collegiate and professional levels.

The upcoming systems figure to be a collaborative effort. On the pro scouting side, assistant general manager of baseball operations and assistant general counsel Zack Rosenthal and assistant GM of player personnel Jon Weil figure to be key voices. Expanded roles in the Draft are likely to go to special assistant to the general manager Danny Montgomery and senior director of scouting operations Marc Gustafson.

Schmidt’s appointment is the first move for Feasel, who was appointed last week as Rockies club president and chief operating officer.