Jeff Bridich’s departure is only good news if the next step is a good one
Apr 26, 2021, 12:42 PM | Updated: 12:44 pm
First, the good news.
“The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club and executive vice president / general manager Jeff Bridich have mutually agreed that Bridich will step down from his role, effective immediately.
That was the surprise announcement on Monday morning, which served as a reason for celebration amongst the team’s fans. After a tumultuous offseason that saw the Rockies trade five-time All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado, plus $50 million, to the Cardinals in exchange for next to nothing, Colorado’s loyal fan base was ready to see the GM depart.
They got their wish. But the news comes with mixed feelings.
For one, Bridich did do some good things during his 17 years with the organization, including six-plus as the general manager. After all, he did build the only team in franchise history to reach the postseason in back-to-back seasons. And in 2018, Colorado came within a tiebreaker game of winning their only National League West title in franchise history.
So there’s a bit of “what could’ve been” with Bridich’s departure. The foundation was in place for the team to be a contender for years to come. They had a chance to be special, perhaps even surpassing what was accomplished during Rocktober in 2007.
But it all came apart quickly. Bridich inked the most-expensive bullpen in Major League Baseball history, only to see Wade Davis, Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw turn into a disaster. He chose to sign Daniel Murphy over D.J. LaMahieu, which turned into an epic whiff. He inked Ian Desmond to a mega-deal, which never panned out. And then, he picked a fight with Arenado, which proved to be the last straw.
Unfortunately, that blunder can’t be undone. Perhaps if the Rockies had made this move three months ago, they could’ve kept the best player in franchise history on the roster. That’s infuriating.
If Dick Monfort had any inkling of moving on from Bridich, he should’ve done it months ago. At least that would’ve given Colorado a chance to keep Arenado. A general manager is replaceable. A generational talent isn’t.
Monfort chose wrong, a fact that was reinforced on Monday. Now, both Arenado and Bridich are gone. Both sides of the squabble exiting within 90 days of each other is just the epitome of ineptitude.
The only way to salvage it, however, is the next step. That was revealed at the end of the team’s press release today.
“The organization will be appointing an interim general manager for the remainder of the season, and they will conduct a search for a permanent general manager once the 2021 MLB postseason has concluded.”
That’s a step in the right direction. The last time the Rockies made a change in the front office, they didn’t interview a single person for the job. When Dan O’Dowd stepped down in October 2014, his righthand man – Bridich – was immediately given the gig.
This time around, it’s time for sweeping change. The franchise has had the same mindset for more than 21 years, since O’Dowd was hired in September 1999. They’ve had the same way of thinking since the previous millennium, for crying out loud.
Monfort has to search high and low for Bridich’s replacement. He has to talk to the best of the best in baseball. He has to find a bright, engaging visionary, someone who sees the challenge of playing 81 games at 5,280 feet as something that should be embraced, not feared.
If he does that, the Rockies won’t have lost Arenado for nothing. At least that heartbreaking loss will have forced a much-needed organizational change.
