Cooper Hearne | April 12, 2026

The positive trajectory just keeps building for the Rockies!

After an offseason makeover in which they brought in “Moneyball” guru Paul DePodesta as President of baseball operations, the Rockies are now adding a new minority owner – the Penner Sports Group, which is the family entity of Greg and Carrie Penner that owns the Denver Broncos. While the Monforts remain majority owners of the team, the Penners are now a massive pillar in the ownership foundation with a hearty 40% stake.

The good vibes had already been brewing with the Rockies this year, as DePodesta helped revamp the organization with a collection of coaches and executives who are well-respected and innovative. The early results had been promising as well, with the team showing marked improvement on the field.

Now, with the addition of the incredibly wealthy and successful Penners to the ownership group, the oft-beleaguered Rockies truly have reason to believe that better days are ahead.

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Despite only being minority owners, and reportedly keeping their main focus on the Broncos, the Penners should significantly benefit the Rockies in key ways. The most obvious reason is the financial boon this will be to the franchise. For now, Major League Baseball is the only major sports league with no salary cap (this could change with a new collective bargaining agreement due in 2027), and having deep pockets to attract and pay players is a major advantage.

The Rockies have always struggled to keep pace financially with the top tier teams, as the Monforts are not ultra-wealthy and Denver is only a mid-sized market. Having the Penner Group on board could finally allow the front office to compete for elite talent in free agency. 

While a salary cap may still be the best outcome for the competitive balance and future of the sport, the Rockies will now be better positioned for success in either scenario. Even if the MLB follows the NFL model of a salary cap, we have seen with the Broncos that extra financial resources can make a meaningful impact.

The Penner’s will be in a position to support things like: a more robust analytics and scouting department, field and stadium improvements, front office and coaches salaries, and training facility upgrades. The Monforts already announced that this influx of cash will allow them to pay off all existing debts and provide strategic flexibility in the future.

The other encouraging element of bringing in the Penners is adding fresh, competent eyes on the organization. By all accounts from their work with the Broncos, the Penners are thoughtful, bold, and collaborative partners. Good leadership at the top can make a significant difference that impacts all levels, and it’s a big plus to add their professional stewardship to the ownership room.  

While the Monforts didn’t “sell the team”, as a notable segment of the fan base had been calling for, they did bring in a powerful partner that can help alleviate many of the financial constraints that have held the Rockies back. There are still challenges ahead, and the roster won’t be magically upgraded overnight, but there are now capable people at all levels of the Rockies’ organization, and resources to back them up.

Step by step, the Rockies are bolstering their franchise and steadily positioning themselves to be strong competitors going forward. Don’t pen in the Rockies as future World Series champs just yet, but the Penners should help cultivate a team that fans are excited by again.

Written by Cooper Hearne