The Rockies announced the hiring of Tommy Tanous as assistant general manager today. Tanous has spent the past 15 years in the Mets’ scouting department. He will focus on scouting and player development with Colorado. Thomas Harding of MLB.com was first to report the hiring.
“Tommy brings a wealth of knowledge in coaching, amateur scouting, pro scouting, international, and special assignment work from his time in baseball, and I’m looking forward to using his experience and rare ability to connect with people to help build organizational consistency across all levels of our operation,” said president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta in a press release.
Tanous was most recently vice president of player evaluation and special advisor to the president of baseball operations in New York. He’d been with the club since 2010. Tanous’ tenure with the Mets crossed over with DePodesta’s time in the organization. DePodesta took over as vice president of player development and scouting for the Mets in 2010, around the same time Tanous was hired. The pair spent six seasons on the same staff until DePodesta left for the NFL.
Colorado continues to build out its front office since hiring DePodesta in early November. Tanous joins Josh Byrnes as a new executive coming over from a big-market organization. Byrnes had been senior vice president of baseball operations with the Dodgers.
On the player front, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic reported a role change for a veteran pitcher. Reliever Jimmy Herget is expected to prepare as a starter heading into next season. The 32-year-old was excellent out of the bullpen last year, posting a 2.48 ERA across 59 games. Herget racked up a career-high 83 1/3 innings in his first season with the Rockies. As Rosenthal and Sammon point out, Herget pitched more than an inning in 31 appearances.
Herget was drafted by the Reds and debuted with the team in 2019. He bounced around from there, pitching for the Rangers, Angels, and Braves over the next five seasons. Herget was claimed off waivers by the Cubs near the end of the 2024 season after eight games with Atlanta. He was designated for assignment shortly after and scooped up by the Rockies.
Despite the nomadic career, Herget has delivered solid results as a big leaguer. He has a 3.17 ERA over 238 1/3 innings. Herget’s 3.51 xERA and 3.69 SIERA are a bit higher than his actual ERA, but still suggest he’s a solid bullpen arm.
Herget throws from a true sidearm slot, with his arm angle being nearly perpendicular to his body. He ranks in the first percentile in extension. Herget typically relies on two breaking balls and a low-90s sinker. He led with the curveball last season, followed by the slider and sinker, to go with the occasional four-seamer and changeup. The unique look likely drives some of Herget’s success, so it’ll be interesting to see how he fares facing hitters multiple times. He’s made just three starts in his career.
Photo courtesy of Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images
Who will replace Tanous in the Mets scouting department? George Costanza, but you didn’t hear from me.
Purple haze all in my brain
Lately, things just don’t seem the same
Actin’ funny but I don’t know why
‘Scuse me while I kiss the sky
You gotta be on that Spanish Castle Magic or something fella
I’m guessing you are one of the survivors of the Venezuelans drug boats,
Nope, the only kinetic strikes that I see are at home plate.
Herget can sling it. Very off-brand to be dealing like that out of the Rockies’ pen.
Going from the Browns to Rockies is some sort of madness
Yeah, that is just asking to be punished! lol…
Idk I guess some people just enjoy pain and a steady dose of disappointment. I mean, I understand the upside of joining a bottom dwelling franchise, but even if you succeed, is it really worth the five years it is likely to take and the resulting equivalent of something near ten years of stress, anxiety, and depression?
If it is your only option, I could definitely understand that, but I am sure these guys had plenty of other options, especially Byrnes.
They say Depodesta is responsible for the Browns acquiring QB Watson from the Texans and signing him to a large contract. Now he can attempt rectify a similar situation for the Rockies by dealing with Bryant’s signing and make things right
Everyone worth something in the Mets org is leaving
Watching Herget pitch last season I wondered how he would do as a SP. A 2.48 ERA in 83 1/3 IP is very respectable. 3.15 at Coors in 45.2 IP and 45K’s at home as well.