Twins ‘blindsided’ rest of organization, changing MLB world with Derek Falvey

The Minnesota Twins are in an expected spot as spring training quickly approaches.

The Twins announced On Friday, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey and the organization will say goodbye. Falvey served in that role since the end of the 2016 season and was named team president of baseball and operations in November 2024. With Falvey’s departure, executive chairman Tom Pohlad will temporarily take over as team president. General Manager Jeremy Zoll will remain in his position.

The Twins experienced a series of highs and lows under Falvey’s leadership. They won the AL Central in 2019, 2020 and 2023 and were a wild card in 2017. The Twins didn’t have much postseason success during that time and failed to advance beyond the ALDS. Overall, the Twins had a 690-666 record under Falvey.

The timing of Derek Falvey’s departure from the Minnesota Twins surprises the baseball world

Although Falvey said he wanted to spend time with his family and think about what would happen next, details about what led to the departure are scant. He did mention the vision and direction of the organization under new ownership, so there may have been a difference in philosophy.

Nevertheless, Falvey’s abrupt departure stunned the baseball world. noted The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman that Falvey had been the keynote speaker at the Twins annual media lunch. Dan Hayes also from The Athleticreported that team employees were “blindsided” by Falvey’s departure. That confusion extended beyond the organization Gleeman reported that he received a text from a senior official in another team’s front office asking what happened in Minnesota.

Such moves typically don’t happen in the days before spring training. Layoffs and changes in philosophy usually occur after the regular season ends, giving the organization time to find the right people to fit their vision. In this case, there may have been no way out for either party.

The Minnesota Twins are entering a new era with a different ownership group. While the reasons why remain unknown, Falvey will not be part of that trip.