The Minnesota Twins have narrowed their managerial search to four candidates: James Rowson, Derek Shelton, Scott Servais and Ryan Flaherty. Rowson and Shelton don't bring much excitement, as both have already worked under the Derek Falvey regime. However, although they aren't as exciting to fans as Torii Hunter or Nick Punto would be as managers, Servais and Flaherty could bring a fresh face to an organization struggling to keep fans happy.
Servais has the most managerial experience of any of the candidates, as he managed the Seattle Mariners from 2016-24. While that experience would be nice to bring to the Twins clubhouse, Flaherty, who has been the Cubs' bench coach for the past two seasons, could bring a different management style to Minnesota that the team desperately needs.
Signs suggest the Twins should hire Ryan Flaherty as their new manager
Flaherty is the most sought-after of the Twins' four managerial candidates, as he has been linked to the San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles' open managerial jobs. Meanwhile, Rowson and Shelton haven't been linked to any other openings, and Servais has just been connected to the Orioles' vacancy.
Given Flaherty's popularity, one has to assume he brings something to the table that the other candidates don't. Flaherty is the youngest of the four candidates at age 39, and he played in Major League Baseball as recently as 2019.
If the Twins want to hire Flaherty, they likely will have to act fast before another team scoops him up. If the Padres want Flaherty, they likely have a good chance since the Cubs bench coach worked for San Diego as an advance scout and development coach, and eventually bench coach, from 2019-23. If the Padres don't work out for Flaherty, the Orioles and Braves will likely be more appealing to him than the Twins, as he played for Baltimore from 2012-17 and played for Atlanta in 2018.
In conclusion, one has to assume the Twins manager job is Flaherty's least-favorite of the four vacancies he is in the running to fill. Most Twins fans know how unpopular the Pohlads have made the team over the past two seasons as well, primarily due to cutting payroll after a historic playoff run. Flaherty probably knows this as well, but if the Twins offer him a manager job before another team does, there is a good chance he takes it. Falvey needs to act now.