Twins Fire Manager Rocco Baldelli After Disappointing Season

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins fired manager Rocco Baldelli on Monday, marking the end of his seven-year tenure, which included three AL Central titles. The decision follows a second consecutive disappointing season for the team.

Twins officials announced Baldelli’s dismissal after a challenging season, during which the team struggled significantly. After faltering in June, they failed to gain any momentum in July, finishing the season with a record of 70-92.

Following the trade deadline, the Twins went 19-35, with only the Colorado Rockies recording a worse record during that stretch. The Twins ended up with the fourth-worst overall record in Major League Baseball, their poorest performance since 2016.

“Over the past seven years, Rocco has been much more than our manager. He has been a trusted partner to me,” said Derek Falvey, the current team president, in a statement. “Together, we shared a deep care for the Twins and our players. This is a difficult day because of what Rocco represents to so many people here.”

For two consecutive years, uncertainty surrounded Baldelli’s position as the team began to decline. In 2023, the Twins won 87 games, earning their third AL Central title under Baldelli, but they struggled to maintain that success.

In total, the Twins are 82-119 over their past 201 games, which includes a strong 13-game winning streak earlier in the season.

Attendance also plummeted at Target Field, with the Twins drawing just over 1.7 million fans for the season, the lowest attendance in a non-pandemic year since 2000.

In the wake of a major sell-off at the trade deadline, Baldelli dealt with a depleted roster that strained their playing capabilities. Key players such as Carlos Correa and Harrison Bader were traded, impacting the team’s stability.

In his seven seasons with Minnesota, Baldelli compiled a record of 527-505, achieving notable milestones but ultimately falling short in recent years.

His tenure ends as the Twins look to establish a new direction for the franchise.