BEREA — Paul DePodesta is leaving the Browns and going back to baseball.
DePodesta spent nearly 10 seasons with the Browns as chief strategy officer. He was heavily involved in the major decisions and a trusted adviser to owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, although his exact responsibilities were unknown outside the organization.
DePodesta is returning to the national pastime as head of baseball operations for the Colorado Rockies, the Rockies announced Friday.
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He had worked previously in baseball front offices, including as executive vice president of the San Diego Padres and general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. DePodesta was played by Jonah Hill in the acclaimed movie “Moneyball,” which focused on the front office of the Athletics. He was assistant GM with the A’s, winning three division titles.
DePodesta was hired by the Browns on Jan. 5, 2016, after 20 years in Major League Baseball, a move that stunned the sports world. His responsibilities with the Browns included implementing systems and processes to improve the player development and research departments.
He placed significant importance on analytics and had major influence in the draft and player acquisition.
He lived in La Jolla, California, but made frequent trips to Northeast Ohio and away games.
“We want to thank Paul for his contributions to the Cleveland Browns over the past nine and a half seasons,” the Haslams said in a statement. “Paul’s humble and egoless approach encouraged a culture of teamwork and collaboration. He helped modernize our research and analytics departments and his broad background in professional sports brought a different perspective to our organization. We appreciate the valued role he played in our organization as a member of our leadership team and wish him all the best in his return to Major League Baseball with the Colorado Rockies.”
DePodesta led the Browns’ search for a coach and general manager in 2020, leading to the hiring of Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry, who remain with the team. DePodesta had identified Stefanski as an attractive head coaching candidate the previous offseason, when he was a finalist before then-GM John Dorsey hired Freddie Kitchens as coach.
Dorsey and Kitchens were fired after the 2019 season.
The Browns are 56-99-1 in the regular season since DePodesta was hired. The .362 winning percentage ranks above only the Jets, Giants and Jaguars in the NFL.
DePodesta, along with general manager Sashi Brown, helped execute the teardown that led to 1-15 and 0-16 seasons in 2016 and ’17. The Browns used the high and extra draft picks to build a roster that included Myles Garrett, Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, Denzel Ward and David Njoku. Many of the young players were signed to long-term extensions before they were eligible for free agency.
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Cleveland reached the postseason in 2020 and 2023, its first playoff appearances since 2002. It beat Pittsburgh in the wild card round after the 2020 season.
The Browns are 5-20 since the start of the 2024 season, and the futures of Berry and Stefanski beyond this season are in doubt. The franchise is trying to recover from the disastrous trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson in March 2022.
The Browns gave up three first-round draft picks and gave Watson a then-record, fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million contract. He’s been unable to stay healthy, playing only 19 of a possible 59 games. He hasn’t come close to living up to his former Pro Bowl form when he has played.
DePodesta played football and baseball at Harvard.
He began his MLB career in 1996 as an intern in player development for Cleveland before becoming a major league advance scout for the 1997-98 seasons and later the special assistant to the GM.
The Browns didn’t have an immediate comment.
Browns writer for The Chronicle-Telegram and The Medina Gazette. Proud graduate of Northwestern University. Husband and stepdad. Avid golfer who needs to hit the range to get down to a single-digit handicap. Right about Johnny Manziel, wrong about Brandon Weeden. Contact Scott at 440-329-7253, or email and follow him on and Twitter.
