The Minnesota Twins have pulled the plug on Rocco Baldelli. After seven seasons at the helm and just one day after the dust settled on a brutal 70-92 finish to their 2025 MLB campaign, Baldelli is out. And whether you saw it coming or not, this is the kind of move that makes the whole league stop and take notice.
From 101 Wins to a 70-Loss Spiral
The Twins have been stumbling lately — not just this season, but really the past two. That 70-win mark is not just underwhelming; that’s bottom-of-the-barrel stuff for a MLB franchise that should be contending in the AL Central. We’re talking about a team with resources, a passionate fanbase, and a deep history. So when President of Baseball Ops Derek Falvey stepped up with the corporate-speak statement, you knew what time it was.
“This game is ultimately measured by results,” Falvey said — and there it is, folks. That’s the line. The one that says everything and nothing at the same time. It’s the business version of “it’s not you, it’s me.” He continued, “We determined that this is the right moment for a change in voice and direction.” And just like that, the Baldelli era is over.
The Rocco Era: A Rollercoaster of Hope and Heartbreak
Rocco came in as the new-school guy — the analytics-friendly manager who was supposed to breathe new life into the clubhouse. And early on, there were flashes of that magic. Remember 2019? A 101-win season, AL Central champs — that felt like the start of something real. But postseason woes, roster inconsistencies, and back-to-back underwhelming years chipped away at whatever goodwill remained.
Now, it’s not like Falvey threw him under the bus. He went out of his way to make it clear this wasn’t a knock on Rocco’s “effort or leadership.” But let’s be honest — when the team underperforms like this, someone’s gotta take the fall. And it’s always the manager. That’s baseball.
An MLB Franchise at the Crossroads
So, where do the Twins go from here? That’s the million-dollar question. They’ve got talent, but also holes — lots of them. The next manager is going to have to juggle a roster in transition and a front office clearly feeling the heat. Whoever steps in is walking into a job with no grace period and a clear mandate: win, and win now.
As for Baldelli? Don’t be surprised if he resurfaces again in the MLB sooner rather than later. In a league where second (and third) chances are part of the game, his name will absolutely be in the mix for another gig — maybe even before spring training rolls around.
