The Rockies announced Monday that Jeff Bridich is stepping down from his role as the club’s general manager, effective immediately. The following is a look at Bridich’s seven-year tenure as GM.
2014
Record: N/A (hired Oct. 8)
Notable trades/signings: Traded RHP Juan Nicasio to Dodgers for player to be named later; Dealt 2B Josh Rutledge to Angels for RHP Jairo Diaz.
Highs: There was hope Bridich could turn around the Rockies following disappointing results from former GM Dan O’Dowd.
Lows: None, with only three months on the job.
2015
Record: 68-94, 5th
Notable trades/signings: Traded SS Troy Tulowitzki and RHP LaTroy Hawkins to Blue Jays for SS Jose Reyes, RHP Miguel Castro, RHP Jeff Hoffman, RHP Jesus Tinoco; dealt RHP Tommy Kahnle to White Sox for RHP Yency Almonte; signed free agent 1B Mark Reynolds.
Highs: Nolan Arenado emerges as a bona fide national star, making his first all-star appearance.
Lows: The Tulowitzki trade, and Bridich’s central role in it, continues to live in Rockies infamy, especially with the trouble (Reyes) and didn’t-live-up-to’s (Hoffman/Tinoco) Colorado got in return.
2016
Record: 75-87, 3rd
Notable trades/signings: Traded LF Corey Dickerson and 3B Kevin Padlo to Rays for LHP Jake McGee and RHP German Marquez; signed free agents OF Gerardo Parra, OF Willie Abreu, LHP Mike Dunn, 1B Ian Desmond.
Highs: The Marquez/McGee trade was the best deal Bridich made as GM.
Lows: Bridich signed Desmond to a five-year, $70 million contract to play a position he had never played before. It worked out as poorly as one would expect.
2017
Record: 87-75, 3rd, lost NL wild card
Notable trades/signings: Traded RHP Eddie Butler to Cubs for James Farris; dealt RHP Alejandro Requena, RHP J.D. Hammer and SS Jose Gomez to Phillies for RHP Pat Neshek; signed free agents RHP Greg Holland, RHP Wade Davis, RHP Bryan Shaw, LHP Jake McGee, C Chris Iannetta.
ᾱ:The Rockies made their first playoff appearance since 2009 under first-year skipper Bud Black.
Lows: Colorado’s pitching was shelled in an 11-8 wild card loss that made the playoff showing feel hollow. Davis, Shaw and McGee all underperformed overall, especially the latter two.
2018
Record: 91-72, 2nd, lost NLDS
Notable trades/Signings: Traded 1B Chad Spanberger and 2B Forrest Wall to Blue Jays for RHP Seunghwan Oh; dealt LHP Jerry Vasto to Royals for C Drew Butera; signed free agent 1B Daniel Murphy.
Highs: Colorado made consecutive playoff appearances for the first time ever, and beat the Cubs in a thrilling, extra-inning wild card game at Wrigley Field.
Ƿɲ:Bridich let DJ LeMahieu walk in free agency to New York for the exact same deal Murphy signed with Colorado.
2019
Record: 71-91, 4th
Notable trades/signings: Contract extensions for Arenado and Marquez; traded Mike Tauchman to New York Yankees for LHP Phillip Diehl; dealt 2B Hunter Stovall to Phillies for LHP James Pazos.
ᾱ:The signings of Arenado and Marquez seemed to indicate a promising future for Rockies fans.
Ƿɲ:Colorado had a free-fall from the playoffs to a team that barely escaped last place.
2020
Record: 26-34, 4th
Notable trades/signings: Traded player to be named later and cash to Red Sox for CF Kevin Pillar.
Highs: Trevor Story cemented his superstar status with a brilliant amended season.
Ƿɲ:Fan disenchantment hit a low with the looming prospect of an Arenado trade and another non-competitive team in 2021.
2021
Record: Currently 8-13, 5th
Notable trades/signings: Traded Arenado and cash to St. Louis Cardinals for LHP Austin Gomber, 3B Elehuris Montero, RHP Tony Locey, SS Mateo Gil and RHP Jake Sommers.
Highs:Story is a star, Ryan McMahon is emerging, and the rotational pillars have promise.
Lows: The Arenado trade may go down as the worst trade in the history of Colorado sports.
