Article: Twins Fire General Manager Terry Ryan

[wavedog]

First, Best Wishes to Terry!  By all reports a solid guy but who had more than enough time on his run as GM.    Interesting that he was fired at this time - 3 games after the All-Star break- 2 weeks before the trade deadline and fired rather than a negotiated step-down which I would have expected.    Cautiously optimistic this will be good news for the Twins future but we will see what happens next.  

[tobi0040]

It could be that Pohlad has seen enough from Terry Ryan that he doesn’t want him being the guy deciding who we get back in trades. I mean, Terry has to know we are sellers here. I guess they could disagree about 2017, i.e. should we keep Ervin or not.

 

You never want to see someone fired, but this isn’t some working Joe making $35k a year with two kids and a wife. So I am not overly worried about Terry’s well-being. I am very shocked they did this right now. And it is questionable whether Antony is an upgrade or not. But this is definitely a step in the right direction, especially in conjunction with a search for a new GM.

 

Someone above is right about needing permission, but most clubs welcome their #2 interviewing for a GM role elsewhere.

[wsnydes]

 

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.

Bringing someone in from outside the organization isn't a great option either.  I think that's what makes this such a statement move.  The timing just doesn't make any sense otherwise.  It definitely comes with it's fair share of concerns.

 

Overall, I think it's a step in the right direction though.

[KirbyDome89]

 

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

This is the real question. TR was set to go, but the timing of the move raises a lot of questions. The importance of this trade deadline in particular makes me a bit anxious knowing Antony is the one calling the shots. 

[gunnarthor]

 

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

Yeah.  The scary thing might be that ownership wants to lower payroll again (my guess is that was why Smith was fired).  If we trade Santana for nothing but payroll relief, our rotation next year will be bad.  And searching for a GM during the season strikes me as not the best way to do it.  Wouldn't we want to wait until after the season to interview people connected with other teams?  

[Platoon]

Something had to have precipitated this move. The Pohlads don't operate this way, and certainly not in their highest profile position. But nothing seems to track. Ryans modus operandi would be cautious minimal movement, with little cash spent on eating contracts. If the Pohlads disagreed, it's their money and Ryan could/should have spent it. The vice versa is Ryan wanting to eat huge amounts of contracts, he signed players too. That isn't in his DNA. Ryan wanted to fire Molly? And JP didn't? Doesn't seem like the thing TR would fall on his sword for. and throw in the timing before the trade deadline and it's odd, odd, and very odd! Sadly, the only thing I can come up with is JP wanted to make a big trade involving a couple ignore prospects for veterans that would win some games short term? But even that's a stretch, since I am not sure if JP knows what the infield fly rule is. The trouble with thinking out loud is everyone can read it!

[diehardtwinsfan]

Hmm... where do I apply?

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Bringing someone in from outside the organization isn't a great option either.  I think that's what makes this such a statement move.  The timing just doesn't make any sense otherwise.  It definitely comes with it's fair share of concerns.

 

Overall, I think it's a step in the right direction though.

Oh, there's no way they could bring in someone from the outside and have them handle the deadline. That's completely unreasonable... But it still puts Antony in a dangerous situation. Is he ready to handle assets and negotiate with experienced GMs around the league?

[Loosey]

 

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. . . .

Also, I am happy with this.  Terry Ryan seems like a good guy, but from a baseball standpoint this had to happen.  He was way to risk averse.  Hopefully now the Pohlads go out and get an outside GM, or even go out and get president of baseball ops to go out and get a new GM and overhaul the whole thing.

[wsnydes]

 

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

Agree completely.  It's difficult to evaluate a GM in such a short window.  Moves often take several years to realize their impact.

[Squirrel]

 

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.

Well, of course, I hope they would start now. But all that could mean is making a list of who to contact, with the real interview process happening at the appropriate time post-season. 

[twinsnorth49]

Crap, my game thread for tomorrow just got a whole lot harder!

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

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

I don't see that.  Maybe Ervin Santana, to shed his salary?

[Hrbek70]

Hoping the Pohlad's saw the other local franchises going in the right direction and finally looked in the mirror. Wonder if the other GMs will try to play hard ball with Antony?

[HitInAPinch]

I don't think Ryan was fired over anything other than, what is it:  a 5th 90 loss season in the past 6 years.

[RedBull34]

I would not be surprised if Antony is named full time GM at the end of the season. But even if that does happen, we can hope for an outside President of baseball operations.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Someone above is right about needing permission, but most clubs welcome their #2 interviewing for a GM role elsewhere.

Oh, I agree teams will be open to interviews, I only question whether they'll let their personnel deal with distractions in the middle of a season. The Twins will likely pursue teams with capable front offices (ie. in a pennant race) and teams want their personnel focused on the challenges at hand, not dallying with another business trying to steal them away.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

And searching for a GM during the season strikes me as not the best way to do it.  Wouldn't we want to wait until after the season to interview people connected with other teams?  

I suspect other teams will freely let their front office people interview for other positions during the season.  They just wouldn't let us hire them until after the season or postseason.

[wsnydes]

 

Oh, there's no way they could bring in someone from the outside and have them handle the deadline. That's completely unreasonable... But it still puts Antony in a dangerous situation. Is he ready to handle assets and negotiate with experienced GMs around the league?

Agreed, and by no means was I suggesting as such.  I think that is a large part of why the timing goes back to your comment about it being a statement move.  The timing complicates an already incredibly hectic time period for a franchise.  It opens them to risk at multiple levels.  All of this at a crucial point in this franchises future.

 

I'm not sure I'd want to be Antony.  He's is a sink or swim position.  If he knocks it out of the park, he's sitting well even if the Polhad's decide to clean house.  If he fails miserably, he could be ruined by it.  That's one hell of a pressure cooker to be tossed into.

[markos]

 

Oh, I agree teams will be open to interviews, I only question whether they'll let their personnel deal with distractions in the middle of a season. The Twins will likely pursue teams with capable front offices (ie. in a pennant race) and teams want their personnel focused on the challenges at hand, not dallying with another business trying to steal them away.

It happens. As an example, AJ Preller was hired away from the Rangers on August 5, 2014. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I don't see that.  Maybe Ervin Santana, to shed his salary?

Those weren't great examples and I should have spent more time elaborating instead of trying to get a post in quickly.

 

My worry is that trades will happen willy-nilly because that's what Antony feels he is supposed to do. That means lots of players shuffled around without a plan in place; who to target, who to move, organizational needs, etc.

 

Compiling a game plan and executing it during something as trying and difficult as the MLB trade deadline without experience is a delicate operation, to say the least... And if Antony feels he has to "impress the boss", it might lead to some pretty stupid decisions.

[Intramural Legend]

 

Crap, my game thread for tomorrow just got a whole lot harder!

 

Don't worry about it.  I'm assuming Brian will re-write today's instead.  Serves him right for being so on top of stuff!

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Yeah.  The scary thing might be that ownership wants to lower payroll again (my guess is that was why Smith was fired).

Not only that -- I wonder if the timing of this move was influenced by the Bill Smith 2011 situation?  Smith didn't sell at the deadline in 2011, and only made a minor move to dump Delmon Young in August.  Although it's not like we had a ton of pieces to sell, and getting comp picks for Cuddyer and Kubel was a classic TR-style move and probably better than any modest trade return...

[lukeduke1980]

 

Yeah.  The scary thing might be that ownership wants to lower payroll again (my guess is that was why Smith was fired).  If we trade Santana for nothing but payroll relief, our rotation next year will be bad.  

I'm sure decrease in revenue will prompt reduction in payroll.  I think that's just a business perspective.  Santana won't make any more difference next year than he did this year.

[SwainZag]

 

I would not be surprised if Antony is named full time GM at the end of the season. But even if that does happen, we can hope for an outside President of baseball operations.

 

Why would they fire Ryan now if they were going to give Antony the reigns then?  Why not wait til the end of the season, make a deal with Ryan and let him go out "on his own terms" and then name Antony the GM?  With an in-season firing, it just points a huge arrow and going outside the organization.  I would say there is a much bigger chance Antony is let go at the end of the season rather than naming him the GM.  Just my thoughts.

 

Edit: spelling

Edited July 18, 2016 by SwainZag

[Vanimal46]

 

I would not be surprised if Antony is named full time GM at the end of the season. But even if that does happen, we can hope for an outside President of baseball operations.

I would be surprised if Antony IS named full-time GM at the end of the season. Much like the Minnesota Wild when they fired their coach, someone internal had to take over for the interim. I don't believe there's much of anything Antony can do to remove the interim label after this season. 

This has the making of a complete tear down in the organization. Something most of us would welcome. 

[operation mindcrime]

Every hire Ryan has made should be fired as well!

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Not only that -- I wonder if the timing of this move was influenced by the Bill Smith 2011 situation?  Smith didn't sell at the deadline in 2011, and only made a minor move to dump Delmon Young in August.  Although it's not like we had a ton of pieces to sell, and getting comp picks for Cuddyer and Kubel was a classic TR-style move and probably better than any modest trade return...

Yeah, that's a good example of the virtue of patience.

 

Cuddyer turned into Berrios. Sometimes, it's better to just sit on your hands if the opportunity isn't there to make a good move.

 

Again, that's what worries me about this situation.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

It happens. As an example, AJ Preller was hired away from the Rangers on August 5, 2014. 

Good point.  That was a last place season for the Rangers.  I'd guess if some team was out of the playoff picture, they would let a front office member leave at this point.  That's not a lot of teams yet, probably not a lot of good candidates either.

 

I would have liked to see a "team president" addition earlier, who could have worked with TR and been the architect for the next iteration of the front office.  As it was, with TR in command and Antony as his #2, we were already working without a net, and now doubly so for the rest of this season...

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Those weren't great examples and I should have spent more time elaborating instead of trying to get a post in quickly.

 

My worry is that trades will happen willy-nilly because that's what Antony feels he is supposed to do. That means lots of players shuffled around without a plan in place; who to target, who to move, organizational needs, etc.

 

Compiling a game plan and executing it during something as trying and difficult as the MLB trade deadline without experience is a delicate operation, to say the least... And if Antony feels he has to "impress the boss", it might lead to some pretty stupid decisions.

 

This is the bigger issue.  Not quite sure how Antony is at identifying MILB talent.  If he lets his scouts/analytics guys do it, then i'd say by all means go and sell.   But I have to think this was a clear sell indicator.  Ryan has never been one to do that when he's forced to.  He handles trades well when someone else's hand is forced.  The real concern to me at last is that we end up with more WTF moments like Capps for Ramos or Hardy for Hoey. 

 

I think in the end, just collecting the best talent given is probably the best strategy, but for guys like Dozier, Suzuki and possibly Santana/Nunez, I'd want specific types of talents.