The Athletic’s Brittany Ghiroli and Ken Rosenthal Confirmed D-backs May Lose Another Key Executive To Rival’s Club

“The Colorado Rockies have started narrowing down their list of candidates for their next head of baseball operations, with Arizona’s Amiel Sawdaye and Cleveland’s Matt Forman among the finalists, league sources told The Athletic on Wednesday,” wrote Brittany Ghiroli and Ken Rosenthal.

According to the report, Sawdaye and Forman may not be the only remaining finalists, but the Rockies have begun eliminating other candidates from consideration.

“The traditionally insular Rockies have pledged to hire an external candidate this time around,” Ghiroli and Rosenthal added. “The search is being led by executive vice president Walker Monfort — son of team owner Dick Monfort — with the next round of interviews expected to take place later this week. Whether the new hire receives the title of president or general manager will depend on the individual selected.”

Sawdaye has been a longtime lieutenant to Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen, working alongside him for nearly a decade. He began his front office career with the Boston Red Sox, where he eventually rose to the role of director of amateur scouting. Sawdaye followed Hazen to Arizona ahead of the 2017 season to become assistant GM and has served as Hazen’s top deputy ever since. He also stepped in as interim GM during the 2021 season when Hazen took a leave of absence.

Given Arizona’s place in the same NL West division, Sawdaye is well-acquainted with the Rockies organization. Both teams have faced off frequently, giving Sawdaye and the D-backs ample familiarity with Colorado’s roster and operations.

Notably, Sawdaye has also been part of a major turnaround in Arizona. After a 52-110 finish in 2021, the D-backs improved by 22 wins in 2022 and reached the World Series in 2023 — just two years removed from their 100-loss season. That dramatic rebound may have caught Colorado’s attention as the club looks to restore competitiveness after several difficult years.

Whether Sawdaye ultimately secures — and accepts — the position remains uncertain, as does the potential impact his departure could have on the Diamondbacks’ front office. Having worked closely with Hazen, Sawdaye is widely regarded as a key influence in Arizona’s baseball operations and decision-making process.