Schmidt’s Rockies era ends with the franchise’s worst run in modern history: 224-407 since 2021 and a 40-107 pace this season, the worst in club memory. The payroll squeeze and a string of high-profile but underperforming free-agent bets, led by Kris Bryant, defined the era as fans questioned a rebuild that never fully materialized. Outside leadership and listening to ownership about evaluating all operations kept swirling as the franchise lurched toward change.

Drafts and extensions offered mixed results. Freeland and McMahon extensions provided some stability, while others undercut the plan’s credibility. The team’s drafting yielded several hits but also notable misses, and trades like McMahon to the Yankees signaled a shift toward future upside rather than immediate contention. With external candidates discussed and leadership in flux, a true rebuild appears likely to loom in LoDo.