Front Page: Twins Getting Leadership When Needing it Most

[Ted Schwerzler]

When the Minnesota Twins moved on from Terry Ryan and the set up that he’d built within the organization they aimed for a culture shift. The goal was to bring the franchise into the new age of baseball and become a leader rather than a follower. Now being there, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine are in the throws of needing to protect it.Initially saddled with a holdover manager, Falvey and Levine weren’t going to be able to make their mark from the start. They waded in the shallow end and allowed an acclimation process of sorts to take place. Prior to the 2019 season they jumped right off the high dive straight into the deep end. Regardless of the fanfare created by roster reinforcements, it was the infrastructure that seemed so valuable last winter.

 

Having spent time down in Fort Myers for Spring Training, it was immediately evident that this collection was going to do things differently. The Twins can’t change how they’re viewed by potential free agents overnight, but they can position themselves as an industry leader other teams will quickly want to emulate. The former carries a significant monetary cost while the latter is generally accompanied by a level of commitment towards a strong belief in process. Over the past year Minnesota’s front office has reinvigorated the organization to levels it’s likely never seen.

 

Without having yet signed any free agents, there’s been a flurry of activity from the Twins ranks this offseason. Something like five coaches will have been poached when the dust settles, and a five-year extension will have been handed out to the two head men. Those two combining realities are the defining moments of where Minnesota is now, and how they’ll want to operate in the future. Talent has been plucked from the organization to take promotions elsewhere, while the men who picked them for those roles are now tasked with getting it right again.

 

There’s no denying that the Twins have a substantial amount of money to spend this offseason, and coming off a 101-win season, a responsibility to write those checks. What they also must get right is the replacements for the now goner developers of that talent, and a blueprint that continues to make the overall infrastructure an environment conducive of producing success.

 

 

Minnesota should be looking to add everyone from Gerrit Cole to Anthony Rendon on the diamond over the next handful of months. Jim Pohlad also realizes that it’s equally important Falvey finds the next James Rowson, Jeremy Hefner, or Tanner Swanson as well. Coming over from an Indians organization that generated some steam as being progressive, the Twins head man has left no stone unturned. Plucking a pitching coach from the collegiate ranks and adding support staff based on success rather than tenure, it’s been in the advancements Minnesota has made that ultimately generated hot commodities for other big-league clubs.

 

I’ll be the first to admit disappointment if a certain payroll threshold isn’t reached before Opening Day in 2020. I also believe that the Twins front office duo of Falvey and Levine are the best equipped to construct a process-oriented blueprint both on the field and off it. The Twins seem to believe this as well, evidenced by the lengthy pact made to the tandem, and that’s a very key development.

 

With a window open, and execution at the forefront, I’m not sure we’ve ever had reason to feel so confident in a Minnesota Twins management group at any point in history. It will be on Derek Falvey and Thad Levine to hit on those beliefs, but for now, there’s no stopping this train.

 

More from Twins Daily:

Should the Twins Be In on Cole Hamels?

Multiple Teams Are Interested in Kyle Gibson. Should the Twins Be?

Quick Hitter: New Rules for 2020

 

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[TwinVike61]

"With a window open, and execution at the forefront, I’m not sure we’ve ever had reason to feel so confident in a Minnesota Twins management group at any point in history."

 

Agree whole-heartedly!! The decisions made by this management team have been almost universally solid. No reason to think it will change. Only rainbows and unicorns on the horizon!!

[Rosterman]

There is soemthing to the fact that Minnesota is not always the highest on any free agent's list to come and play (for some odd reason). When they have signed free agents, we often complain that they overpay for some guys, because we can't get the big names (or refuse to oevrpay bigtime).

 

And all the talk we like to do about trades like we are running a fantasy ballteam, you have to have players that fulfill a need in another organization, be it on the major league roster or in the minor league prospect spectrum to pull off a trade. If we can find fault with our players, otehr teams must see that same fault. Teams will trade to (1) get rid of salary (2) not have to worry about further arbitration or potential free agency (3) someone appears on the cusp (4) someone is a pretty prized - and paid in bonus money - prospect (5) an injury happens and you need an immediate replacement - be it longerm or maybe just shortterm and/or (6) change of scenery.