BREAKING: Twins to Hire Derek Shelton as Manager for 2026

[Vanimal46]

47 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Shelton is probably a good manager, but in an organization that badly needs to be shaken up, this is just about the least inspiring hire the front office could make.

The Twins Country Club is alive and thriving 

[Woof Bronzer]

Remember when Falvey said he wasn't looking for any specific qualities in the next manager, because he didn't want to shrink the candidate pool?  It's absolutely astounding, that by casting this enormous net they just happened to nab the guy who was the runner up 7 years ago.  The odds of that happening must be astronomical!

[jkcarew]

It was an extremely underwhelming finalist list, so…

We knew they’d go cheap, and we suspected they’d go familiar. Bingo. Set the bar horrendously, awfully, embarrassingly low, then meet it. It’s the Twins way.

Why would any fan spend a dime on this team at this point?

[USAFChief]

I waa hoping for an actual managerial change.

This seems like only a name change. 

Hope I'm wrong and he learned some things in his first opportunity. His previous teams were as bad at playing the game as Rocco's Twins. 

 

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

If I had to guess, I'd guess that Shelton was Falvey's pick from the beginning & he wanted us to think that he went through some vetting. Sheltie is desperate (so he'd agree to everything) & accustomed to losing; he's perfect.

IMO, the most important part of being a MN manager is healing the clubhouse & fan culture. I'm not sure if Sheltie would be the best choice but if he has a good staff behind him, he'd be OK. Since Falvey been in charge I'm getting used to being disappointed. Since he had Baldelli fall on the sword, he'd probably feel that he run it all back, pretty much.

Let me never read, or hear, "Sheltie" again.

 

KThanks

 

[Rufus]

He was hired as a bench coach by Molitor, maybe his experience working with both (Molitor's old style, Baldelli's computer style will be an asset) He was also a long time hitting coach.  Falvey has done a nice  job finding pitching.  What the organization needs is someone that is good at developing the other side of the game.  If Shelton can improve the hitting and get a bench coach that is good with fundamentals, base running and defense  it might be just the balance the Twins need

[jaimedude]

The Twins Joe Pohlad and Derek Falvey,  went to the toilet paper aisle at Target, held there hand up between the one roll Scott tissue, and the 4 pack of Angel Soft TP and they pondered. You know the only TP left on the shelf during the Pandemic, the two brands of TP nobody wanted.  They together settled on the single roll of Scott tissue because even 1 roll cheap,  it was the smaller investment to hire this manager choice. 

[Nashvilletwin]

2 hours ago, Dave Borton said:

Development occurs in the minors. Finishing touches in majors. That's what minors are for.

Yep, that’s exactly why all our top prospects excel in the minors and then fizzle out when they get to the majors.  It’s literally the biggest problem in our organization.  Someone needs to take responsibility for the transition and I will not join you apologists in absolving the major league manager and his staff for repeated failures in this regard.

[1985Fan]

We’ll see if Shelton is a Falvey yes man when the rest of the coaching staff is announced. If Shelton is allowed to bring in some coaches that he wants, then there might be hope things could get better. If it’s the same coaching staff as before, then we’re in for a long season. I’d like to see new coaches, except for Pete Maki. 

[JD-TWINS]

Shelton isn’t exciting as a hire - agreed.

Has anyone watched Servais manage? It’s not exactly scintillating stuff!

Rowson has had success as a hitting coach (no managing) with Teams that are full of Power Guys……he’s not making Garver, Rosario, Sano, Kepler, Cruz, Stanton, Soto, or Judge “into power hitters” …….they have had good/great years due to their abilities.

Flaherty was my hopeful choice but that was because of his connection to Counsel. It was a wild guess!!

The negativity here at TD is always profound……predict disaster and be pleasantly surprised with any positive results.

I’m as “old school” as anyone can be at 63. I still use hand written notes in my work and whiteboards. I’m not a big computer guy, but I sure am smart enough to know their value! I realize tracking results on one’s performance trends and those of your opponents have real value. It’s just a more in depth, easy to access, “scouting report.” Bitching about using data to manage Professional Sports is so backwards it’s unbelievable!  The complaining about Falvey/Baldelli/TWINS use of “spreadsheets and data and analytics” is nuts, it’s being done in 31 of the other 31 dugouts/clubhouses in MLB. Most here want to use ELECTRONIC strike zones but they don’t think Managers should manage their teams by using data & analytics. What the hell is the problem with utilizing information?????

[palmspringstwinsfan]

The Twins sure don’t care about creating  excitement for the fans do they? Someone on these pages suggested Rowson with Ron Washington as his bench coach. I thought that was a fabulous idea. And Tori Hunter sure would have been fan friendly. Now my optimism for maybe a $120M is gone.  This move suggests further payroll cutting to me as the team moves closer to becoming the Pirates 2.0. 

[DJL44]

This represents the smallest change possible.

[Lasorda_This_Out]

Was Derek Shelton employed or un-employed before today?

Thank you...

[jaimedude]

29 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

This represents the smallest change possible.

Exactly it is going through the motions to say you did something. They are hiring the runner up guy to the guy they just fired in Rocco Baldelli. This couldn't be any more Rocco 2.0  without the success. This is repeating the same exact mistake the Pirates made, and expecting different results. This is foolhardy black hills  pyrate type choice. Shelton has the same traits you just rejected in Baldelli after 2025. Poor choice of a failing business to keep using the same leadership and making the same flailing choices. Twins are as dysfunctional as the Glen Taylor  Timberwolves used to be. Next thing you know they will hire a sports journalist as GM. Surprised the family let Joe make this choice.

[Vanimal46]

6 minutes ago, Lasorda_This_Out said:

Was Derek Shelton employed or un-employed before today?

Than you...

The latter 

[Cory Engelhardt]

38 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

I mean, wasn't Shelton literally the runner up to Rocco in 2018?  You can't get more "Rocco 2.0" than that.

I just meant their prior experience is a lot different. That’s all. 

[Lasorda_This_Out]

Twins Daily: Perhaps time to suspend the Site for a couple of years until this fiasco of an MLB organization gets resolved?

NO reason to read about upcoming prospects, free agent signings, trades, etc. with the current disfuntional, myopic, greedy Ownership structure ( and the scintillating new Manager?)

Been a great Forum over the years...Good for you and thanks!!

Go Twins....someday! 😓

Happy Trails guys...

Lasorda...

 

[KirbyDome89]

Not that I expected any sort of true shake up, but holy **** this is literally as close to status quo as you can get when hiring somebody "new." Falvey can't be gone soon enough, I'm so tired of this milquetoast FO. If you're going to be bad, at least be interesting, or at minimum feign adjustment, but I guess that's too much to ask...

[RaoulDuke]

Glen Taylor lasagna levels of incompetence.

The single most uninspiring hire they could have made outside of Tony La Russa, they really are punting until after the lockout. Pablo and Joe are as good as gone.

[1985Fan]

I like his look in the picture. He looks like a traditional old school baseball guy with the gray hair and the beard. If Latroy Hawkins wants to join the coaching staff, that would be great to have a tie to the old Twins fundamentals focus that he was schooled in. At least he’d bring a different perspective. Along with Hawkins, bring in other Twins people. How about Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer, or even Viola?

[Lasorda_This_Out]

21 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

The latter 

So he gets a job.....

[Dave Borton]

41 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Yep, that’s exactly why all our top prospects excel in the minors and then fizzle out when they get to the majors.  It’s literally the biggest problem in our organization.  Someone needs to take responsibility for the transition ...

I don't disagree with your observation. Possibly the problem might lie in the recruits and the system which brings them to us.

Huge leap from AAA to MLB. That last step is a big one. Many fizzle. I believe it is a system-wide problem, not a managerial/coach issue. But I will admit that there is plenty of room for discussion. Not an either/or. Maybe a both/and.? Not sure.

[tony&rodney]

I hardly pay attention to the manager and don't watch their pressers. I wonder when was the last time a manager went all direct in a press briefing?

I watch the players. Falvey puts the roster together. I'm hoping the changes bring players I want to watch and that the players currently in the organization who are on the 26 person roster perform, playing exciting baseball. I won't be watching the manager.

[S Bart]

The Pohlads first time hiring a person who previously managed at the MLB level. Regardless...not an inspirational hire in my view. I spoke with a Pirates fan. He told me that Shelton was a person who did what the FO told him to do. With the exception of their great pitcher, the team had similarities to the Twins. Shelton will not excite the Twins fan base nor ticket sales....but fingers crossed that they will at least do better than the White Sox....

2 hours ago, LyleCole said:

I don't think it is the worse hire possible.

Personally, I would have hired Toby Gardenhire.  He would have been an internal candidate familiar with many of the prospects that will be on the roster for this coming rebuild.  He would have pleased the ownership too because he would have been an inexpensive hire keeping the overall budget to a minimum.   

Perhaps Shelton can figure out what is going on with Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee, Miranda, and other hitters who just cannot seem to find consistent results that their overall talent should deliver.  I am sure Shelton is also a low cost candidate that can be discarded with little dead cost though, another plus ownership values.

 

 

Miranda??? He probably won't even be on the St. PAUL ROSTER. ..next year

[The Great Hambino]

My theory:

Falvey didn't want to fire Rocco in the first place. 

Pohlads insisted on a change because they think that will placate the fanbase because they don't understand their fanbase at all and are very bad at what they do. 

Falvey then hires the absolute closest thing to Rocco that he can find. 

The Pohlads sign off as they are unaware that he used to coach for the Twins.

[S Bart]

46 minutes ago, jaimedude said:

Exactly it is going through the motions to say you did something. They are hiring the runner up guy to the guy they just fired in Rocco Baldelli. This couldn't be any more Rocco 2.0  without the success. This is repeating the same exact mistake the Pirates made, and expecting different results. This is foolhardy black hills  pyrate type choice. Shelton has the same traits you just rejected in Baldelli after 2025. Poor choice of a failing business to keep using the same leadership and making the same flailing choices. Twins are as dysfunctional as the Glen Taylor  Timberwolves used to be. Next thing you know they will hire a sports journalist as GM. Surprised the family let Joe make this choice.

Interesting.... the 2026 Twins will now be paying their prior manager and his former bench coach turned manager 

[S Bart]

24 minutes ago, 1985Fan said:

I like his look in the picture. He looks like a traditional old school baseball guy with the gray hair and the beard. If Latroy Hawkins wants to join the coaching staff, that would be great to have a tie to the old Twins fundamentals focus that he was schooled in. At least he’d bring a different perspective. Along with Hawkins, bring in other Twins people. How about Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer, or even Viola?

Well...how about the two Jims (Kaat and Perry ;)

[T.O.]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

Let me never read, or hear, "Sheltie" again.

 

KThanks

 

 

[Nashvilletwin]

Hey, it just occurred to me that we all might be looking at this the wrong way.

Maybe Shelton was the only one who would actually take the job. Sure beats working at Dick’s Sporting Goods at the local mall. At least I think it does.  Might be close.

Honestly, I’m at such a loss. A chance for a reset by hiring a proven winner and developer of talent.  And this is what Falvey and the Nephew come up with.  On paper the hire looks like it’s destined for a quick failure.  We shall see.  Good luck.  Prove us wrong.  But I’d bet the Twins’ odds in Vegas to win the World Series just got even longer - if that’s even possible.

[S Bart]

2 hours ago, Nshore said:

Shelton is about to go through the baseball version of The Revenant.  I just hope the man survives.  He can always take shelter inside a dead horse.

The Revenant.. are you saying that TC bear will maul him?...Derek, get that bear spray ready