Article: Twins Fire General Manager Terry Ryan

[Nick Nelson]

The narrative about the Minnesota Twins front office being run as a "country club" took a hit today, as the organization shocked the baseball world by announcing the dismissal of general manager Terry Ryan.

 

He will be replaced by assistant GM Rob Antony on an interim basis.The stunning announcement comes just two weeks ahead of a pivotal trade deadline, meaning that a different leader will oversee this critical opportunity to support and reinforce Minnesota's rebuilding process.

 

Antony has been working in the organization for nearly 30 years, first in the PR and media relations departments before moving into baseball operations and eventually becoming a high-ranking front office executive. He has briefly handled GM duties in the past, when Ryan was absent while battling skin cancer in 2014.

 

It isn't entirely surprising that the Twins decided to part ways with their long-time GM, given the disastrous way that things have played out on the field this year, but the timing is striking. Is Antony auditioning for a permanent gig based on how he handles the deadline and the remainder of the season? Or does the franchise have plans in place for a more comprehensive and competitive successor search during the offseason? (NOTE: According MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Twins plan to launch an extensive GM search within the coming weeks.)

 

We'll keep you updated with new details as they emerge. But for now, here's what we know: Terry Ryan, who has largely been the enduring face of Twins baseball since first taking the GM gig back in 1994, is out.

 

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[IndyTwinsFan]

The timing of this is more shocking to me than the actual event itself.   WOW!

 

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out the rest of the season and during the coming offseason.

[DJL44]

I wonder the reason for the move. I don't think they lack confidence that Terry Ryan can make a decent deadline trade. I think they lack confidence that he will make enough trades (fire sale).

[NoCryingInBaseball]

Didn't expect it now...but I'm not really surprised.

[troyhobbs]

Not sure what to post now that my fire TR comments are no longer relevant.....

 

......hmmmm

[mazeville]

This move won't mean a thing unless the team hires someone from the outside to run this team. Otherwise it's simply moving around chess pieces after losing your queen.

 

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

I never thought I'd see this midseason.

 

I doubly never thought I'd see this less than two weeks before the trade deadline.

[gunnarthor]

Wow.  Well, best to Terry.  He worked hard for this team for decades. 

 

I suspect the timing meant that he and the Pohlad family had a different view of what should happen at the trade deadline.  I'm not sure what this means to Molitor, I always felt he was a Pohlad hire so I doubt he's gone.  (Although I'm not a fan of this coaching staff).  And Anthony is the logical interim GM. Nice to see that they will do a big GM search.   And I would also assume that most people would look at the Twins GM job as a really nice prize.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

This move won't mean a thing unless the team hires someone from the outside to run this team. Otherwise it's simply moving around chess pieces after losing your queen.

Firing a GM midseason is a statement move.

 

If Rob Antony is GM on December 1st, I'll be shocked. Ownership doesn't can a GM who has been with the franchise for over 30 years (especially a loyalty-based team like the Twins) and then hire his hand-picked successor four months later.

[Mike Sixel]

It has to be about a disagreement about the trade deadline, doesn't it? Otherwise, why now?

 

I am still stunned.....

[DaveW]

Honestly, its about time. Better late than never, Ryan clearly never should have come back the first time. Unfortunately these disastrous last 5 seasons have tarnished an otherwise solid career as a GM.

I suspect Ryan will be fine though, while he may not get another GM role, I am guessing there would be plenty of other positions offered to him (if he even wants to work)

 

Anyways, this is some of the best organizational news to happen in a very, very long time.

Hopefully they clean house completely when it's all said and done and bring in a new regime.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

It has to be about a disagreement about the trade deadline, doesn't it? Otherwise, why now?

My thoughts exactly.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Picking up from Brock's comment in the other thread:

 

 

And that's where Antony failed in a big way. The back of that roster was laughable. While typically, the 23-25 men on a roster don't make a huge difference either way, the thinking that led to those choices was broken... to be generous.

 

I'd add that the 2014 spring roster decisions with Antony as acting GM were not unlike many of the decisions from the Bill Smith era -- way too much deference to Gardenhire.

[Primetime82]

FINALLY! It's about  time!!!

 

The Vikings finally got a real coach!

The Timberwolves cleaned house and hired a boss of a coach!

The Wild finally got a real coach!

AND the Twins finally did it!

 

This is the start of something GREAT for this organization. Terry had his chance, he didn't get the job done.

 

Edited July 19, 2016 by glunn

[wsnydes]

 

Wow.  Well, best to Terry.  He worked hard for this team for decades. 

 

I suspect the timing meant that he and the Pohlad family had a different view of what should happen at the trade deadline.  I'm not sure what this means to Molitor, I always felt he was a Pohlad hire so I doubt he's gone.  (Although I'm not a fan of this coaching staff).  And Anthony is the logical interim GM. Nice to see that they will do a big GM search.   And I would also assume that most people would look at the Twins GM job as a really nice prize.

Agreed.  With the talent in the farm system, I would think it would be a very attractive position.  Same with the manager's chair should it come to that.

[SwainZag]

 

It has to be about a disagreement about the trade deadline, doesn't it? Otherwise, why now?

 

I am still stunned.....

 

Or it could have been a foregone conclusion made by the ownership group.  Ryan isn't getting any younger, results aren't here etc. 

[Vanimal46]

A step in the right direction. Like Mike and others said in the thread before this, the timing of this has to correlate with the strategy at the trade deadline. My assumption is the Pohlad's want to sell, and TR wanted to stand pat. Time will tell which side of the argument the Pohlad's are on. 

 

[Linus]

I'm shocked and a little concerned. If nothing happens at the trade deadline because the org is in turmoil it could be a serious blow. And I also agree with nearly everyone else that Antony can't be the guy.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I wonder the reason for the move. I don't think they lack confidence that Terry Ryan can make a decent deadline trade. I think they lack confidence that he will make enough trades (fire sale).

But does anyone think Rob Antony will make more/better moves in the next few weeks?

[KirbyDome89]

 

Firing a GM midseason is a statement move.

 

If Rob Antony is GM on December 1st, I'll be shocked. Ownership doesn't can a GM who has been with the franchise for over 30 years (especially a loyalty-based team like the Twins) and then hire his hand-picked successor four months later.

Honestly I hope you're right, but never underestimate the "Twins Way."

[Drew]

I'm very happily surprised by the timing, as Brock said this is a statement move and this team needs to scream about something. Hopefully this is the first in a series of bold moves. 

[FormerMinnasotan]

I'm happy that Jim Pohlad actually fired Ryan. Honestly the results of Terry Ryan's work since coming back has been poor. It's time for a fresh new voice to take control.

 

As far as Rob Antony, I sure hopes Pohlad has Antony's job as a trial run as GM. If Antony's performance is worthy of him being the GM, then great he can stay. If Antony fails like Bill Smith or Terry Ryan part 2 then at the end of the year he needs to be canned. Problem is, even if the Twins let go of Rob Antony who's to say the Twins FO won't do something dumb like hiring former manager Ron Gardenhire as GM?

[wsnydes]

This is a crucial time for this organization.  Assuming the posting goes outside of the organization, it should attract some very talented applicants.  With the talent in the farm system, this franchise is poised to go places with the right leadership in the FO and on the field.  Hopefully the Polhad's take their time and consider their options carefully and thoroughly.

 

Best wishes to Terry in the future, whatever it may bring.

[Winston Smith]

This is good news if true:

 

Jon Morosi ‏@jonmorosi  ·  

#Twins will not wait until offseason to begin GM search. They are expected to consider candidates in the coming weeks.

 

[Dman]

I really don't understand the timing of this move.  I would have thought they would wanted Terry around at least until after the deadline.  While I get that someone needed to take the fall for the mess the Twins are in I didn't see it coming until the end of the season.  I mean Terry would have or maybe has fallen on the sword for the organization.  Getting rid of Terry should take some of the scrutiny off of JP so I guess it makes sense except for the timing.  

 

I always thought Terry had that job until he didn't want it anymore.  I guess I was wrong.

[lukeduke1980]

 

My thoughts exactly

Wasn't there an MLBTradeRumor about wanting to dump most of Santana's contract?  That seems like more of an ownership directive

[Loosey]

 

A step in the right direction. Like Mike and others said in the thread before this, the timing of this has to correlate with the strategy at the trade deadline. My assumption is the Pohlad's want to sell, and TR wanted to stand pat. Time will tell which side of the argument the Pohlad's are on. 

 

I'm in agreement. Now that Antony is interim I wonder if he will want to try to make a mark on this team in order to be considered the replacement.  In order to do that, I could see him going complete fire sale mode, the problem could be other GM's around the league may see fresh meat and try to take advantage. . . .

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

But does anyone think Rob Antony will make more/better moves in the next few weeks?

No. This is the one part of the decision that terrifies me.

 

I'm picturing a scenario where guys like Dozier and Nunez are handed away for peanuts.

 

I'm also picturing a scenario where nothing happens, though I think that's unlikely because Ryan was just fired, likely over disagreements about what to do at the deadline.

 

Putting an inexperienced person in a position of authority with a strict mandate to "do lots of things" in less than two weeks will often lead to disastrous results.

[REPETE]

 

But does anyone think Rob Antony will make more/better moves in the next few weeks?

makes you wonder if the Pohlads went to Antony, and asked him if he'd be content to be their puppet, and do their bidding.  

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

As far as Rob Antony, I sure hopes Pohlad has Antony's job as a trial run as GM. If Antony's performance is worthy of him being the GM, then great he can stay. If Antony fails like Bill Smith or Terry Ryan part 2 then at the end of the year he needs to be canned.

Realistically, there is nothing that Antony could do in the next couple months to show he should be the permanent GM.