Dodgers' Josh Byrnes, Former MLB GM, Goes Back To Rockies

For Josh Byrnes, it’s a bit of a homecoming that happened on Wednesday. For the Los Angeles Dodgers, though, they see a key part of their front-office staff leave.

Josh Byrnes, who has been quite successful in the Dodgers’ player development and scouting areas, was named as general manager of the Colorado Rockies. Byrnes and Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta have a long history of working together.

Byrnes was assistant general manager under Dan O’Dowd from October 1999 through the 2002 season.

Other MLB stops for Byrnes include as assistant GM for the Boston Red Sox from 2003-05, which included a World Series championship in 2004. Byrnes also had stops as general manager for the Arizona Diamondbacks (October 2005-July 2010) and San Diego Padres (October 2011-June 2014).

“I’m thrilled to be returning to the Rockies organization, especially at such an exciting time for the future of the franchise,” Byrnes said in the Rockies’ official announcement, according to MLB.com. “Working alongside Paul again is an incredible opportunity, and I’m eager to join him and the rest of the group as we work to bring championship caliber baseball to the Rockies.”

Byrnes and DePodesta worked together in the late 1990s with the now-Cleveland Guardians at the start of both of their careers.

For Byrnes as well as DePodesta, they have their work cut out for them. They are now leading a Rockies franchise that has simply been dreadful over the past few seasons. The ballclub finally cut ties with longtime manager Bud Black last season. Black wasn’t able to maximize what he had available to him and turn the team into a winner.

If Byrnes and DePodesta wanted a challenge to overcome, then they have one in Colorado.

As for the Dodgers, no announcement on a replacement for Byrnes has been made as of late Wednesday. The Dodgers, though, have a pipeline to talent all across the MLB world. Finding a suitable person to fill Byrnes’ shoes will not be hard for the Dodgers to do.

After all, who wouldn’t want to join an organization looking for its third straight World Series championship? People are probably ringing the Los Angeles ballclub’s phones right now, hoping to get a look for Byrnes’ job.

The Dodgers are getting ready to go to the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla., later this week. Not having Byrnes available at this time might be a tough blow. But Dodgers general manager Brendan Gomes will have all his I’s dotted and T’s crossed before heading to the Florida sunshine a bit.

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Dodgers’ Josh Byrnes, Former MLB GM, Goes Back To Rockies

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