BREAKING: Twins to Hire Derek Shelton as Manager for 2026

[Seth Stohs]

Remember two years ago when the Blue Jays fans wanted their manager fired for removing Jose Berrios from a playoff start against the Twins. Suddenly that same manager has that same team one win from a Worl Series. 

The Twins had a rough 2024 season offensively and fans wanted the hitting coach gone. The GM did fire that hitting coach. Like, 5 days later, the Blue Jays hired that hitting coach, and he's got the best offense in baseball and is one win from the World Series title. 

Joe Torre had been hired and fired as a big-league manager 3 times before the Yankees called. He was perfect for that group at that time. 

Derek Shelton has a ton of baseball experience. He is a baseball lifer and knows the game. Ultimately, like Baldelli, it comes down to the players on the roster and the ownership... 

[big dog]

A month ago the popular view was that this was not a job very many people would want. Now the problem is we didn’t hire a really good exciting name. Really?

We need a competent manager who can build a staff that helps get the best out of whatever players we end up keeping. At this point I’m partly underwhelmed and more glad that we don’t have to train a manager who has never put a lineup together  

 

[jctwins]

The Pohlads continue their masterclass in mismanagement of a business organization. For anyone looking to understand how you mismanage a business in absolutely every way, please take note of this free course in how to completely fuc.k up your customer loyalty in every way. 

Learn to love the losing comrades, it's the best way to enjoy this train wreck.

Thank you Pohlads for the gift that you keep on giving us.

[PerfectGame]

4 hours ago, Brandon27 said:

He won't last two years in minnesota and  we will be back square one looking for another manager almost like looking for someone to  play and stay at first base long term 

I think that is the reasoning for the hire. This will be a transition year waiting for the kids in the minors to get a year or two of more seasoning. Plus the lockout is looming after this upcoming season. My guess is there will be a true long term manager hired for 2028. 

[ashbury]

9 minutes ago, PerfectGame said:

I think that is the reasoning for the hire. This will be a transition year waiting for the kids in the minors to get a year or two of more seasoning. Plus the lockout is looming after this upcoming season. My guess is there will be a true long term manager hired for 2028. 

If this is true, wouldn't Shelton himself have a sense of it happening?  Why in the world would he sign on for that?

[Nashvilletwin]

2 hours ago, Dave Borton said:

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.

The bottom line is if the Twins, as a small/mid-market team with an ownership not able/willing to spend in a non-salary cap universe, are not better at turning their successful minor leaguers into legitimate major leaguers than essentially every other team in the majors, we have no chance to compete for a championship.

Said another way, our only way to achieve any sense of a sustainable competitive advantage in the current MLB ecosystem is to have the systems and processes in place to transition our minor league talent into everyday above average major league ballplayers.  And under Rocco, we stunk at that.  Success or failure in this area will end up being the key measuring stick by which Shelton (through his actions and those of his staff that he will assemble) will be judged. And not rightly or wrongly - it’s his singularly most important responsibility  I hope he figures it out.

[Lasorda_This_Out]

Wow....Twins won the fierce bidding War for a Dude who appreciates fine Kentucky Bourbon?

Bring up the kids...Let's Play Ball!

Just a Game?

[Lasorda_This_Out]

1 hour ago, ashbury said:

If this is true, wouldn't Shelton himself have a sense of it happening?  Why in the world would he sign on for that?

Shelton is 55...needs a job till 65 and Medicare kicks in? Can you blame him?

[RadBradke72]

Choosing to be optimistic until the numbers show up. Lots of time for misery later if needed. Or, as the Word says, Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof. 🙃

[Twinkie in Deutschland]

Pittsburgh's arm has reached MN. Brace yourselves for record number of losses before Falvey and Shelton are both shown the door. I don't think the Pohlads have investors to pay down their debt so therefore, my prediction will be the Twins move to Montreal before 2030. Nice knowing you guys. At least I have the Vikings and Timberwolves to root for, let alone the teams in Germany.

[mikelink45]

I cannot really rate managers or candidates but I can sense that fandom needed something new -something not continuing on the Path we have taken - this did nothing to meet those desires and this team needed something to boost fan morale (that is, if they want to sell tickets) and this allows the team to go through the off season with minimal excitement and expectations. 

I do hope Shelton does well and he might.  That is not the issue.  But look at some of the other hires - teams going out of the box - SF Tony Vitelloa college coach - talk about change); Baltimore - Craig Albernaz associated with Tampa and Cleveland and lots of minor league experience; Los Angeles Angels -Not exciting, but a new face and old friend Suzuki, 42, spent 16 years as a major league catcher and has spent the last three seasons as a special assistant to Angels general manager - good luck Kurt; and then there is another boring hire - Rangers hired Schumaker on a four-year contract Friday night, promoting him from a role as senior advisor to Chris Young.

 

[Doctor Gast]

14 hours ago, USAFChief said:

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

 

KThanks

 

Sir, yes, sir.

What's your problem with it?

[Riverbrian]

4 hours ago, JAMES PRICHARD said:

Choosing to be optimistic until the numbers show up. Lots of time for misery later if needed. Or, as the Word says, Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof. 🙃

Derek has my full support. He is the manager of my baseball team. 

With that said... Not worrying bout the morrow is what got us here because the morrow arrived unprepared.

I agree the day can be evil enough and he doesn't need extra burden. But... If he is a Book of Matthew guy... Keep reading to the build your house on rock... not sand part. Because in the future, the rain will come down, the streams will rise and the wind will blow. 

Rocco's house of sand is gone... Falvey's house of sand is on the brink. 

May Derek Shelton read Proverbs 22:6 instead or at least listen to Crosby, Stills and Nash. 

 

 

[Doctor Wu]

11 hours ago, LakesPibble said:

I think he fits our existing culture perfectly.

I keep hearing about the Twins "team culture" and I have no idea what that is supposed to mean. 

[Doctor Wu]

8 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

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.

I agree with that take. Managers CAN make a difference, certainly, but you need quality players to work with. I don't hate the idea of Shelton as manager, but I was really hoping for a new face with new ideas. That said, it's the mix of players on the roster that will be the TRUE determination of whether we can win more games next season or not. I'm still holding out hope that can happen. 

[Doctor Wu]

13 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Derek has my full support. He is the manager of my baseball team. 

With that said... Not worrying bout the morrow is what got us here because the morrow arrived unprepared.

I agree the day can be evil enough and he doesn't need extra burden. But... If he is a Book of Matthew guy... Keep reading to the build your house on rock... not sand part. Because in the future, the rain will come down, the streams will rise and the wind will blow. 

Rocco's house of sand is gone... Falvey's house of sand is on the brink. 

May Derek Shelton read Proverbs 22:6 instead or at least listen to Crosby, Stills and Nash. 

 

 

I'd opt for some CSN  ... but maybe not "Helplessly Hoping."

[Riverbrian]

3 minutes ago, Doctor Wu said:

I'd opt for some CSN  ... but maybe not "Helplessly Hoping."

Time we have wasted on the way. 

[old nurse]

9 hours 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 and I will not join you apologists in absolving the major league manager and his staff for repeated failures in this regard.

So then they should be firing the whole minor league crew. Managers, coaches and development staff because that is where the failure is at.  They should be firing all of the players because ultimately that is where the problem is at

[old nurse]

43 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Time we have wasted on the way. 

You read everyone’s comments? I would think “I’m flying in Winchester Cathedral” might be more like it 

[jmlease1]

I think the biggest complaint people are making about Shelton (that he's going to be nothing but a yes-man for Falvey) is one you could make for any hire made by this front office. Since ownership decided to keep Falvey & Co, they were the ones making the hire.

You never know about this stuff. Sometimes the guys who flunked out in the first managerial role excel in their next one. Sometimes they flunk it again.

At the end of the day, it's going to be more about the roster, the players, and how healthy the team is for how successful Shelton is. He wasn't my first choice, but he's not a disqualifying or embarrassing one. Hope he learned some things in Pittsburgh (what not to do , if nothing else).

[Riverbrian]

3 minutes ago, old nurse said:

You read everyone’s comments? I would think “I’m flying in Winchester Cathedral” might be more like it 

Given time. You'll be fine. 

[rv78]

9 hours ago, S Bart said:

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

And don't forget their fearless clubhouse leader in Houston, Carlos Correa. Nothing says Front Office Incompetence more than "Derek Falvey".

[Whitey333]

Boring hire.  But I hope he somehow does well. To me this signals more payroll dumping this off season and a continuation of the who cares about the fans attitude from ownership.  Falvey has been a joke since he got here and should have been fired when Rocco was let go.  And people saying managers have very little impact on wins and losses:  then why have them?  I'm not an analytics fan but I do understand their usefulness.  I object to using that nearly 100% of the time without using any common sense managing the team.  Using baseball instincts and experience as part of the decision making.  Twins are probably in for some very bad baseball for their fans.  They have the right people in place to promote boring baseball in Falvey and Shelton.

[rv78]

7 hours ago, PerfectGame said:

I think that is the reasoning for the hire. This will be a transition year waiting for the kids in the minors to get a year or two of more seasoning. Plus the lockout is looming after this upcoming season. My guess is there will be a true long term manager hired for 2028. 

If this is true, we can only hope that is the plan for Falvey as well.

[Russ]

Time will tell if this is a good decision made by the wrong decision makers

 

Still want to hear the sales pitch to buy season tickets

[Doctor Wu]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

Time we have wasted on the way. 

Let's just hope that Shelton doesn't represent the wrong sort of "Deja Vu".

[Riverbrian]

11 minutes ago, old nurse said:

So then they should be firing the whole minor league crew. Managers, coaches and development staff because that is where the failure is at.  They should be firing all of the players because ultimately that is where the problem is at

I won't pretend to know what the problem is... but there is a problem. 

Maybe they should... restaff... overhaul the minor league system... if it's complicit. 

I'd like the front office to look in the mirror first. But... there is a problem that needs to be rooted out. 

If it were me... I'd be completely focused on improving development as quickly as possible. 

I would attack the development problem like the Ford Motor Company built Willow Run from the ground up in an incredibly short period time to produce B-24 Bombers needed yesterday for WWII. 

Will Derek help or get in the way. We will find out. 

 

[EGFTShaw]

12 hours ago, Dave Borton said:

Looking forward to it based on Strib article years ago about his work ethic and commitment to baseball fundamentals. 

Give it time and review Oct 2026. Glad to be second guessed.

If the fundamentals improve,
[rubs magic lamp]
The team will improve.

[old nurse]

16 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

I think the biggest complaint people are making about Shelton (that he's going to be nothing but a yes-man for Falvey) is one you could make for any hire made by this front office. Since ownership decided to keep Falvey & Co, they were the ones making the hire.

You never know about this stuff. Sometimes the guys who flunked out in the first managerial role excel in their next one. Sometimes they flunk it again.

At the end of the day, it's going to be more about the roster, the players, and how healthy the team is for how successful Shelton is. He wasn't my first choice, but he's not a disqualifying or embarrassing one. Hope he learned some things in Pittsburgh (what not to do , if nothing else).

The manager has the limitation of the players they have.   The players they have are determined by the front office so any manager kind of has to be a yes man for the front office.  The manager is the one who has to make the view work.  So a manager can end up looking like a yes man for the FO. It is pointless to to try to make the players something they are not

[adjacent]

Welcome Derek Shelton! Did you think that managing the Pirates was tough? Try this one.