Like It or Not, Pohlads Staying Put Means Stability for Twins Leadership

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © William Purnell-Imagn Images

When the Pohlad family confirmed that they will remain the principal owners of the Minnesota Twins, it didn’t just end speculation about the franchise’s sale. It also sent a strong signal about the immediate future of the team’s leadership structure—one that has been remarkably consistent, even during disappointing seasons.

In a letter to fans, the Pohlads explained that they explored “a wide range of potential investment and ownership opportunities” before deciding to retain control and add two significant limited partnership groups. That decision essentially secures the positions of the two most visible leaders in the organization: Derek Falvey and Rocco Baldelli.

Minimal Change Expected at the Top
Falvey, the president of baseball and business operations, has been the franchise’s top baseball executive since 2016. He stepped into one of baseball’s most powerful roles earlier this year, when Dave St. Peter retired. Under his watch, the Twins have won three division titles but have also endured multiple seasons wherein expectations far exceeded results—including the last two seasons, when the club was projected to finish first in the AL Central and will finish out of the playoff picture.

Still, the Pohlads have consistently valued stability over dramatic shakeups. Their decision to keep ownership in-house rather than hand the franchise to a new principal owner is a clear sign that a major front-office overhaul is unlikely.

On the field, Baldelli appears just as safe. The team picked up his 2026 option earlier this season, a move that now looks even more significant. While some fan frustration has grown during this disappointing year, ownership’s history suggests they see continuity in the dugout as a strength, rather than a weakness.

Following Their Long-Term Playbook
In some ways, this approach mirrors the Pohlads’ broader philosophy. While other franchises in MLB have cycled through executives and managers in search of quick turnarounds, Minnesota has preferred to give its leadership groups extended time to execute their vision.

It’s a philosophy not without risk, especially in an era when playoff contention can be fleeting, but it aligns with the Pohlads’ public statements about valuing “long-term vision” and “shared family values.”

Lessons from Other Teams’ Sales
This stability-first mindset also stands in contrast to the uncertainty seen when other clubs explore sales. The Los Angeles Angels and Washington Nationals both tested the market in recent years, before deciding to keep their current owners in place. In those cases, lingering questions about leadership often slowed roster planning and created speculation about changes at the top.

The Twins, by contrast, seem intent on projecting a united and consistent vision moving forward. Billion-dollar sports franchises have a limited buyer pool, and the complexities of selling often extend far beyond price tags. By ending their sales process, the Pohlads have also eliminated the uncertainty that typically comes with a potential ownership change.

A Rarely Changing Guard
In the last four decades, the Twins have had just four full-time managers: Tom Kelly (1986-2001), Ron Gardenhire (2002–2014), Paul Molitor (2015–2018), and Rocco Baldelli (2019–present). On the front-office side, the team operated under general manager Terry Ryan for most of 1994–2016 (with a short Bill Smith tenure in between, with Ryan still in the organization) before hiring Falvey to run baseball operations, and eventually business operations, too.

By comparison, many MLB clubs have churned through eight or more managers and several top executives in that same stretch. Minnesota has also had some famously long-tenured people in less prominent roles in the front office, and it looks like Byron Buxton will be the third franchise icon in as many generations (following Kirby Puckett and Joe Mauer) to play his entire career with the team. The Twins’ slow turnover at the top reflects the Pohlads’ long-standing belief in patience over quick fixes.

The Message to Fans
The Pohlads closed their letter with a commitment to “building a winning team and culture for this region.” For now, that culture will continue to be shaped by the same leadership voices that have guided the team for nearly a decade.

The Twins’ results in 2025 haven’t matched expectations, but the franchise’s direction, from the front office to the manager’s office, appears locked in. For better or worse, stability remains the Pohlads’ game plan.

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Should the Pohlads look to make changes to the front office or manager? Will the new limited partners push for different on-field results? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[Dave Borton]

"Minnesota has preferred to give its leadership groups extended time to execute their vision..."

This leadership group has had 9 years and they have not executed a vision other than mediocrity.

I am afraid today's news is all bad news. Two hedge funds toss in their $MM, Pohlad drains the organization of cash , Falvey remains a fair-haired boy, and Twins tumble around 3rd or 4th place for 9 more years.

They have lost me.

[TheLeviathan]

I'm not going to dignify that title by reading it.

Read the room, good god.

[Aggies7]

“Like it or not..”

Who the hell would like it ?

[tony&rodney]

A change in ownership, front office, and manager was the sole hope for those of us who are not fans of the boring baseball that is the trademark of Falvey/Baldelli baseball. Bad decisions and bad baseball has stretched this Twins fan since 1961 in ways no other era in the franchise history.

Only a miracle can save the Twins now.

[The Great Hambino]

A lot of folks in this organization need to be fired.

At the top of that list is the person that keeps telling them that these open letters to fans are a good idea

[NYCTK]

I think it's safe to say that I now hate the Minnesota Twins. 

Let's Go Mets!

[ChermesZ]

8 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Only a miracle can save the Twins now.

That miracle just passed us by this morning. It’s over.

[Patzky]

Welp that's one take. 

[Twins63]

"Like it or not"

NOT

Thank you, I'll be here all week...

[Road trip]

I suppose so.  I'm not certain it matters much.  A different GM, a different manager, maybe they would create a roster that would be more interesting to watch.

But in the end, the Pohlads won't invest in the team, don't care about winning, and are just playing their customers (us) for suckers.  

After the Trade Deadline Massacre I thought "Maybe this will work out and the Twins will be good in 2028".  That's no longer a realistic hope.  This was a much darker day.

[jorgenswest]

The floor for their commitment to building a winning team and culture is funding a payroll that is at the league median. By sportrac that would be around 159 million this year. I assume that moves up but 160 million next year would be a good entry point for commitment.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

I am gonna jump in here before the comments get turned off for the incoming hate.

First - Clickbait title. There is no way to positively spin the announcement today.
Second - When your fanbase is destroyed, preaching stability as a good thing boggles the mind.
Third - The last 9 months of happenings in the Twins fandom world were only tolerated because the light at the end of the tunnel was new owners. That light has been extinguished. Unless demonstrative actions are taken that show ownership is trying to improve the team/product/media situation, the vitriol will continue to grow exponentially. (changing Falvey/Rocco does qualify as a demonstrative action because any new hire will still be bound by the same limitations of ownership)

[howeda7]

20 minutes ago, ChermesZ said:

That miracle just passed us by this morning. It’s over.

They will eventually be forced to sell if they average 10K and under the next year or two. I'm certainly not giving them any $$.

[howeda7]

2 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

I am gonna jump in here before the comments get turned off for the incoming hate.

First - Clickbait title. There is no way to positively spin the announcement today.
Second - When your fanbase is destroyed, preaching stability as a good thing boggles the mind.
Third - The last 9 months of happenings in the Twins fandom world were only tolerated because the light at the end of the tunnel was new owners. That light has been extinguished. Unless demonstrative actions are taken that show ownership is trying to improve the team/product/media situation, the vitriol will continue to grow exponentially. (changing Falvey/Rocco does qualify as a demonstrative action because any new hire will still be bound by the same limitations of ownership)

The opposite of love is indifference. The outrage over the fire sale shows that fans still care. But the Pohlad's are now driving us toward indifference. Once that happens it's very hard to get them back.

I disagree that changing leadership doesn't qualify as a demonstrative action. As much as we hate the Pohlads, the Twins still had the highest payroll in the division the last couple years. They didn't fail because of $$.  They failed because Derek Falvey is a bad GM. He deserves to be fired. And Rocco with him. 

[saviking]

Nothing like boiler plate ******** PR release. The Polads will remain a ball and chain around our ankles. 

[Doctor Gast]

51 minutes ago, Dave Borton said:

"Minnesota has preferred to give its leadership groups extended time to execute their vision..."

This leadership group has had 9 years and they have not executed a vision other than mediocrity.

I am afraid today's news is all bad news. Two hedge funds toss in their $MM, Pohlad drains the organization of cash , Falvey remains a fair-haired boy, and Twins tumble around 3rd or 4th place for 9 more years.

They have lost me.

You are too generous. We'll fight for the cellar & win under this leadership. Full of hype & hope but no real idea of how to accomplish anything else. If you want anything else, you have to change leadership & direction. Falvey must have prepared everything that Pohlads said. Bla, bla, bla, a bunch of BS. New minor partners have good input into the team. Unless they demand new leadership, they are as stupid as the Pohlads & it's all BS.  Get ready for the Dark Ages.

[purplesoldier4u]

I'm not surprised. When a team cannot even attract lower-level billionaires (like Tampa did), you know the organization has more than one issue.

[howeda7]

This also means a huge drop off in Twins Daily readership. 

[Linus]

I’m disappointed but not surprised. I think the Pohlads were sincere in their desire to sell at their price. Short of that they weren’t going to accept anything less. Perhaps they realized that they could field a competitive younger team that doesnt require even an average payroll. López might as well start researching realtors as he’s a goner. The worst part is that now Falvey is here for the long haul. You know do the same thing and expect a different result. 

[LastOnePicked]

Cody ... this is silly. I'm guessing you know it's silly, too.

Stability is not a value in and of itself. An old rudderless, oarless rowboat that bobs around in stagnant water is technically "stable" - but it's not going to get you anywhere nor is it going to bring you any joy.

This is a losing, failing organization in desperate need of a leadership overhaul. Stability is the last thing this team - or any Twins fan - needs right now.

[IndyTwins]

I don’t feel that Falvey and Baldelli are to blame but the Pohlads need to go. I support a boycott so they feel it.’ I don’t live in MN so I cannot contribute either way but they only understand $$$

[Fire Dan Gladden]

6 minutes ago, howeda7 said:

The opposite of love is indifference. The outrage over the fire sale shows that fans still care. But the Pohlad's are now driving us toward indifference. Once that happens it's very hard to get them back.

I disagree that changing leadership doesn't qualify as a demonstrative action. As much as we hate the Pohlads, the Twins still had the highest payroll in the division the last couple years. They didn't fail because of $$.  They failed because Derek Falvey is a bad GM. He deserves to be fired. And Rocco with him. 

I 100% agree with your take on indifference.

Without getting into the discussion of the good/bad view of Falvey/Rocco, I do not think making a change at either/both of those positions moves the public perception needle. Less die-hards want to see successful players, cheaper tickets, the ability to find the game on television, positive national recognition.

[HerbieFan]

I think I did it.  I found something positive about the whole thing.  At least we know the Twins won't be moving.  

[howeda7]

21 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

I 100% agree with your take on indifference.

Without getting into the discussion of the good/bad view of Falvey/Rocco, I do not think making a change at either/both of those positions moves the public perception needle. Less die-hards want to see successful players, cheaper tickets, the ability to find the game on television, positive national recognition.

Not in and of itself. But let's just say the Pohlad's are still willing to spend $140 million next year. A new GM spending that $$ million and signing say a new closer and a new 1B is going to give fans a lot more hope than Falvey doing it. And we're all tired of Rocco's stagnant station to station baseball. 

[Glorybound]

The Pohlad family has never been honest with their fans. Why start now? I remember a time when they just needed a stadium and they would then be competitive. 
   When they trade Lopez and Ryan Buxton may feel a bit different about his no trade clause.

I personally am done as a fan until ownership is changed.

[AceWrigley]

1 hour ago, Dave Borton said:

"Minnesota has preferred to give its leadership groups extended time to execute their vision..."

They executed it alright.

[rv78]

Stability for Twins leadership is the last thing this organization needs. What the leadership really needs is to be held accountable for their failure. Let's all boycott this organization for as long as the Pohlads are in charge. Adding 2 minor, limited partners to the ownership group only means that the Pohlads will suck as much money out of those 2 partners as they continue to feed their hope and a prayer BS to the fans for the forseeable future. As bad as the last 9 years of being a Twins fan has been, this is the worst news any of us could have gotten. I grew up a Twins fan watching Carew, Oliva, Killebrew as a kid. Got to watch 2 incredible World Series victories in my early adult years. Even enjoyed the years with the M&M boys even though they didn't get a ring. The last 9 years of this crap isn't anything close to what Twins baseball was or should be. Knowing it is going to continue means it is over for me. The hope and a prayer that I was holding onto died today.

[AceWrigley]

[nicksaviking]

Why is everyone jumping on Cody about the 'stability' aspect? I'm trying to decipher where in the article it was used as a celebration and my conclusion is that people are reading the headline but not the article. 'Stability' appeared to be used as a objective statement regarding Derek Falvey and the ownership's future status. The article seemed to understand that this 'stability' wasn't going to be popular. The word wasn't being used as a positive silver lining kind of statement, it was merely being used to describe what the Pohlad's stubbornly prefer, even in the face of poor performances.