The Colorado Rockies are finalizing a deal to hire Paul DePodesta, 52, to run baseball operations, sources told ESPN, pulling him from his chief strategy officer role with the Cleveland Browns. The longtime executive, key to the Moneyball-era A's and a former Dodgers leader, steps into a franchise coming off 119 losses, thin on near-ready talent and wary candidates. After GM Bill Schmidt resigned Oct. 1, DePodesta's first task is hiring a manager; Colorado remains the lone MLB club without one after firing Bud Black and not replacing interim Warren Schaeffer.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.