Colorado Rockies' Jeff Bridich steps down as GM, two months after trading Nolan Arenado
Jeff Bridich, whose tenure with the Colorado Rockies was defined by his falling out with and subsequent trade of franchise player Nolan Arenado, is out as the team's general manager, the team announced Monday.
The Rockies announced that Bridich, 43, and the club "mutually agreed" to part ways, less than three months after Bridich dealt Arenado to the St. Louis Cardinals for a less-than-overwhelming return - and sent along $50 million to help the Cardinals pay Arenado's salary.
Colorado will appoint an interim general manager soon, it said in a press release, and will search for a permanent GM after this season. Greg Feasel, the club’s executive vice president and chief oprating officer, will for now oversee baseball operations.
It was a precipitous fall for Bridich and the franchise in less than two years.
The club signed Arenado, a five-time All-Star with five top-10 MVP finishes, to an eight-year, $260 million extension in February 2019, with Arenado telling USA TODAY Sports, "You want to win where you've been all your life."
The club was coming off two consecutive playoff appearances and Arenado says he was assured the Rockies would continue aiming to contend.
Instead, the club allowed stalwarts like second baseman DJ LeMahieu to walk away, the club finished 71-91 in 2019 and Arenado was brusquely criticized by Bridich after airing his concerns.
That relationship became largely irreparable going forward, although Bridich had more sparring partners than his superstar third baseman.
He had a particularly prickly relationship with local media and rival executives, one openly wondering how Bridich kept his job.
Monday, Bridich's time ran out, leaving another executive to chart the franchise's course.
That may be a particularly grim process, what with All-Star shortstop Trevor Story likely to land on the trade block this summer in his last season before free agency. The Rockies entered Monday 8-13 and in last place in the National League West.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rockies GM Jeff Bridich steps down, two months after trading Arenado
