When the Colorado Rockies let go of long-time skipper Bud Black back in May, the writing was already on the wall: this was a franchise in full reset mode. The team turned to Warren Schaeffer, promoting him from within to take over as interim manager.
At that point, Schaeffer had little to lose and everything to prove. And while a 36-86 record under his watch wouldn’t usually earn a manager a second look, Colorado isn’t operating under typical circumstances.
This is a team coming off its third straight 100-loss season - a staggering 119 losses in 2025 alone. That’s not just a rough year; that’s a franchise in free fall.
But change is in the air. In early November, the Rockies brought in Paul DePodesta as president of baseball operations, signaling a new direction.
Just three weeks into the job, DePodesta made his first major move: he stripped the interim tag from Schaeffer and named him the full-time manager heading into 2026.
Now, Schaeffer steps into one of the most challenging situations in baseball. He’s not just managing a team - he’s helping build one from the ground up.
And he’s doing it in an era where managerial turnover is becoming the norm. Across the league, nine teams will enter 2026 with new managers, including Colorado.
Since 2024, 19 teams have made managerial changes. Since 2021?
That number jumps to 25. It’s a revolving door, and Schaeffer’s hoping to avoid getting caught in the spin cycle.
There are exceptions to the trend - managers who’ve found stability and success despite the volatility. Kevin Cash in Tampa Bay, Dave Roberts with the Dodgers, Torey Lovullo in Arizona, Aaron Boone in New York, and Alex Cora in Boston.
These five have weathered the ups and downs, reaching the postseason and, in some cases, winning it all. Roberts and Cora have World Series rings.
The others have built consistent contenders. Sure, they’ve had their rough patches - that’s part of the job - but none have endured the kind of prolonged struggles that Colorado has faced.
That’s the challenge Schaeffer is walking into. But he’s not doing it alone.
One of the more encouraging signs from the tail end of a lost 2025 season was the support Schaeffer earned from the Rockies’ young core. Despite the losses piling up, players rallied around him.
They wanted him back. They saw something in his leadership - a steady hand, a voice they trusted - and they made it known.
That kind of backing matters, especially in a clubhouse full of young, developing talent. It’s not just about X’s and O’s or in-game tactics; it’s about culture, communication, and building something sustainable. Schaeffer now has the runway to do that, with DePodesta overseeing the broader rebuild.
There’s no sugarcoating it - the Rockies have a mountain to climb. But by committing to Schaeffer, they’re taking a step toward stability, something that’s been in short supply in Denver. And in a league where managers are too often handed a short leash, Schaeffer has a chance to prove that patience and continuity can still pay off.