The Minnesota Twins have easily become one of the most unlikeable teams in Major League Baseball after the MLB trade deadline saw the front office gut the roster. Making things even worse for Twins fans was the fact that the Pohlad family announced shortly after the deadline that they would be retaining majority control of the Twins' franchise after being rumored to sell the team for much of the last year. With the season in the rearview mirror, the Pohlad family has revealed the scapegoat for the season, announcing manager Rocco Baldelli won't be back.
Earlier this season, despite the fact that Baldelli's job status was in question after the team missed the playoffs in 2024, the Twins leaked the fact that they had already exercised his option for the 2026 season. Of course, that decision was made before the Twins' season fell completely off the rails.
Twins make Rocco Baldelli pay as offseason begins in chaos
With a roster that forced fans to Google player names during the closing months of the season, the Twins finished with a record of 70-92. If not for the Chicago White Sox being in the American League Central, the Twins easily would have been the worst team in their division.
No one is going to make the case that Baldelli should have been retained as the Twins' manager, but the way in which this decision played out speaks to what has been at the center of the franchise's dysfunction for much of the last calendar year. The Pohlad family often says one thing, but their actions give a completely different impression. That leaves Twins fans in the uncomfortable position of following a team with a lifeless roster and no direction.
It's hard to imagine the Twins' opening being one of the preferred jobs available this offseason. The Baltimore Orioles and San Francisco Giants are already in search of a new manager, and each have a clearer path to contending in 2026 compared to the Twins. The Twins may be forced to hire a bridge manager as they look to get the organization back on track after a miserable 2025 season.