Should Tom Pohlad's Comments Have Derek Falvey On Notice?

[Cody Pirkl]

Image courtesy of © Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Though it’s worth not getting too excited about words alone, some of Tom Pohlad’s remarks about the state of the organization on Wednesday were encouraging. Notably, he called for accountability and change when results don’t meet expectations. Could this mean trouble for the current front office?

Derek Falvey and company have been at the helm for nearly a decade, and despite a strong regular-season track record, they have only a single postseason series win to show for it. Despite missing the playoffs in four of five seasons in the era of expanded playoffs, Falvey was actually promoted to run both the baseball and business sides of the organization following a 2024 collapse. His seat has never seemed particularly hot. Perhaps that’s about to change.

 

Tom Pohlad’s opening message, which essentially criticizes repeating the same process over and over while expecting different results, seems to apply perfectly to Derek Falvey and the front office in recent years. They’ve chosen to run almost identical rosters back repeatedly despite disastrous results. Up until the trade deadline, they were holding strong to a vision that just wasn't working.

 

The payroll has been scaled back, lending them a bit of slack, but this front office used to at least be creative in their roster-building. Trading a former first-round pick and top prospect for Sonny Gray, or fan favorite Luis Arraez, for Pablo Lopez seems like a lifetime ago. Though not always popular moves, the Twins used to at least take swings to shake up the roster. Instead, it’s been status quo with poor results for nearly three years.

 

The current front office has been in charge long enough that every player, aside from Byron Buxton, has been drafted, signed, or acquired by them. Perhaps this has been part of why they’ve had such a difficult time shaking up the roster in recent seasons. They had a mess to clean up when they took over in 2016, when the organization had a reputation for being analytically outdated and unsuccessful for several years prior. It’s the last five years, however, that have been the least successful stretch of this regime’s time in charge aside from 2023’s brief playoff run.

 

Fans questioned whether the team was entering a full-blown rebuild at the 2025 trade deadline, as the Twins' selloff included both rentals and team-controlled players. Just weeks ago, those concerns remained very real as the Twins seemed on the fence about trading star players such as Buxton. This was particularly interesting, as it was reasonable to wonder whether this front office has earned the right to oversee another rebuild.

Now seemingly aiming to compete in 2026, Tom Pohlad’s comments raise the question of whether this might be the last shot for Derek Falvey and this front office. The biggest holes on the roster were created voluntarily when the Twins chose to go scorched-earth on a dominant, team-controlled bullpen at the deadline. Falvey and GM Jeremy Zoll have expressed their comfort with replacing these players and maintaining a competitive roster, and now their confidence will be tested next season.

The Twins will also be relying on several rebound performances in the lineup for the second season in a row from many of the same players that failed to make good on those hopes in 2025. Throw in several top prospects set to debut at some point down the stretch, and the organization’s player development will have to take center stage in order for the lineup to return to a competitive level. "We're gonna develop young players," Derek Shelton proclaimed in his intro presser, channeling what appears to be an organizational mandate. But it's not really up to him. 

Tom Pohlad’s comments should put Derek Falvey and the front office on notice. Employing the same process over and over without success is the definition of what we’ve seen for years now. If another attempt to compete fails in 2026, with a roster fully developed by this front office, it’s time for some accountability. Do you agree?

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[TJSweens]

First off, I wouldn't characterize overall regular seasons during the Falvey era as strong. 

Second, after years of wasting high draft picks on slow footed college strike out machines like Larnach, Wallner and Sabato, the Twins are finally shifting the focus to high end athletes like Jenkins and Culpeper.

If this current wave of prospects and trade acquisitions doesn't turn the corner for the Twins, then Falvey needs to go. Frankly, he should already be gone. His tenure has been an abject failure.

[Gamblerssoftball]

How hot will the seat get if the checkbook remains closed? Proven impact players usually come with a hefty price tag in the free agent market. On the other hand, trades, which need to happen rather soon, is where something can be done to lower the thermostat. IMHO 

[Nashvilletwin]

So, we need one more season of the same approach to then have some true accountability?  “We are going to develop our young prospects” says the brand new manager who has zero track record of doing so and took the opposite approach playing vets in his first (and dismal) managerial stint.  And if that’s the new motto, why the ridiculous and not payroll effective Bell signing?

And it sounds like Tough Talking Tom approved both.

Actions will speak louder than fan pandering bromides.  Another chance for Falvey while we squander the value in Ryan, Lopez and Buxton?

Either extend Ryan or trade him.  Period. Take a page from the Canucks gm and owner.  If Ryan won’t sign, move him. Duh.

Good leaders come in with a vision and implement. To this point over TTT’s first month or two it’s all hat and no cattle.

These articles should be about demanding a strategy and action, not speculation about how long a proven failed regime can endure.

 

[The Great Hambino]

In my opinion, Tom is already going back on his words about accountability and no half measures by even allowing Falvey to proceed with the ultimate half-measure strategy that has failed the last two seasons and is even more likely to fail again after stripping the team of its bullpen:  trying to enhance a fatally flawed core with little FA nibbles on the margins.

But if you want to argue that this is Tom giving Falvey one final chance, or perhaps its too far along in the offseason to pivot in a meaningfully different direction/find a viable replacement, then he has to decisively follow through with his promise of accountability if (lets be honest, when) this strategy fails yet again.  If they're once again sellers at the trade deadline, Falvey has to be gone.  Don't even wait for the end of the season.   At the very least, remove him from the baseball ops side and have Zoll manage the trade deadline.  Falvey can have no hand in the deadline if you're sellers and actually serious about accountability.

Then clean house in the offseason.  No internal hires - show that the country club mentality no longer flies here.  Get an actual business mind to run the business side.  Get a creative mind from an actual successful front office to run the baseball side.  Demonstrate that you're willing to perform an exhaustive search to truly bring in the absolute best people for the job; you're no longer just looking down the hallway for the least incompetent person available.  Familiarity means nothing.  Hire based on actual talent.  Then proceed with the rebuild that you weren't honest with yourself enough to admit began with the 2025 trade deadline.

[ziggy]

Quote

scortched earth trades......

This tells me there is not a plan to compete in 2026. The 4 best players traded were under control for 2026.(and '27)  They were set up to compete in '26 and '27 with Pablo and Ryans contracts included but changed their minds.....

Back to the article-Do you agree?- of course the front office should be accountable. More so than Rocco was held accountable. It's the front offices "organizational game plan" that isn't working. Their hitting strategy isn't working and their drafting strategy isn't working and so on. Defense matters. Running the bases well matters. There's a lot of things analytics don't show nor does the box score unless taken in context of the whole game. 

Now they have fired all but one scout. I'm sure things will get better (sarcasm).

[TheLeviathan]

I mean, if we're serious about accountability and "half measures" then the performance of the team under his direction should have him fired already.  "Hot seat" shouldn't even begin to describe it.

[terrydactyls]

Would it be possible change Tough Talking Tom to just T-Cubed or T³?  The former is just too long for a nickname.

[rv78]

Actions speak louder than words. If Tom really wanted to show everyone who's in charge and that things are going to be different under him, then his first press conference should have included the dismissal of Falvey. Since that didn't happen, and things are really going to change, then we should see some big trades happening soon. No more waiting until February, no more fringe FA signings like Josh Bell, no more picking from the leftovers. Okay Tom, let's see some meaningful action, soon. Otherwise you're just blowing more smoke up our butts.

[ashbury]

Based on the photo at the top of this article, if I were ownership I'd put Derek Falvey on notice: Either drop 30 pounds, or else stop wearing knit polo shirts in public.

As for Falvey's job performance, after 2021-22 I was questioning whether the FO was driving this team into the ditch.  2023 was a welcome outcome, with memories I'll treasure.  But 2024-25 was back to being a downer, and I blame ownership direction as much as anything.  I think with this change at the very top, Falvey probably has two years, not just one, to show that the team's on the right track. 

IMO the FO have indeed driven the franchise into the ditch, but due in part to back seat driving from Joe.  It's been an ownership-FO collaboration.

[bean5302]

Under Falvey, in a division with only one other competitive team whosports one of the lowest payrolls in MLB year after year, the Twins have managed to basically be dead average in performance. However, Falvey's good years were almost entirely floated by talent his teams inherited from Bill Smith and Terry Ryan. Names like Joe Mauer, Brian Dozier, Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, Jorge Polanco, Kyle Gibson, Jose Berrios, Ervin Santana, Taylor Rogers, and Tyler Duffey.

I would be ecstatic if Tom was already frantically interviewing behind the scenes with a plan to can Falvey before the season starts. Ecstatic. I don't think it's happening, and that would create turmoil, but a GM/PoBO who has proven time and again to be incompetent should not be given another year. Falvey is a bad head of baseball. Turmoil is better than guaranteed bad.

[Fatbat]

The only way to say the FO has been a success is if the next crop of prospects develop and become MLB stars. The farm is full of talent but how much is actually going to be MLB talent? There is no way we are going to win ball games with 6-7 of the guys currently the 40 man.  ownership will continue to be cheap for now so the FO has to lean into playing the kids in MLB.  Lots of them. It’s going to be painful but at least it’s not going to be Joey Gallo retread type painful to watch.  Playing the next wave of kids and letting them take their lumps and bumps in MLB will definitely be a change thats worth it. 

[tony&rodney]

How serious can T3 be if he was in charge since the close of the season? As of right now the moves, press conferences, and statements are just a joke. Who has been fooled thus far?

To be fair, major changes can still take place in the next 6 weeks. We can remain hopeful. It is all one can do.

[Dawgzilla]

No, being he is operating in the parameters set forth by the Pohlads.  Give him the money and results should change.

[Dawgzilla]

If you plan for mediocrity, expect mediocrity!  By the way, name one business, just one, where their goal is to be mediocre or average, maybe "just get by"?!!!!!!!  On a larger note, how about having just having an average family, not great, but just getting by; don't try to be to good, be to successful, don't get to many DUIs, don't get divorced more than once, maybe only have 1 of your 3 kids be drug dependent, only have filed bankruptcy just once, etc. , etc.!!!!  You get the drift, that is "the Twins way"!!!

 

Lastly, if your family can't afford to be successful in the "big leagues", no pun intended, sell to someone or people who can!!!

 

Drop mic, exit stage right😉

[mikelink45]

The real issue is that the Pohlads are still in charge - Falvey is expected to change and be more productive as they continually cut payroll.  We had the team on the rise when we finally won a playoff game and then it was cut - the Pohlads caused this.

I do feel Falvey really made a mistake blowing up the BP.  Ryan, Lopez and Duran were three stalwarts to build with.  Ryan needs an extension and somewhere we need a new Duran.

I agree with TJSweens when he talks about the slow footed sluggers we wasted time and draft picks on.  It took Falvey too long to recognize speed and fielding and contact as positive qualities.

So I am ambivalent, tough talking Tom, ten year Falvey and Zoll (I never here about him).  Who is Zoll? What does he do? 

[old nurse]

2 hours ago, ashbury said:

Based on the photo at the top of this article, if I were ownership I'd put Derek Falvey on notice: either drop 30 pounds or else stop wearing knit polo shirts in public.

 

As I searched for a better Falvey picture for you  the only decent picture I could find was from when he was hired. That 30+ pounds must be the result of Falvey at the training table and thus we know where the Twins debt came from 

[MGX]

I don't know if he is on notice, but he sure isn't acting like it this off-season. If he were we'd be pushing to put a competitive team on the field.

At the deadline we traded expiring contracts which is fine, but then we traded players with control beyond 2025 in our bullpen & at SS. If you're serious about competing wouldn't those be the two areas to address immediately? To this point we've addressed the bullpen with Eric Orze, The void at SS is being addressed by Brooks Lee & his 75 wRC+ along with at best below average D at a key defensive position.

As others have said all we can do is hope there is more change coming as unlikely as that seems.

[jmlease1]

The answer should be "yes", but since the biggest issue is still ownership...

[HerbieFan]

Good grief I hope so.  I've said it a million times - the biggest problem isn't the tight payroll, it's the complete inability to develop a single position player.  Name a hitter that has even lived up to expectations, let alone exceeded them.  Jeffers maybe?  

[Woof Bronzer]

Lol, it's much more likely that Falvey is breathing a sigh of relief.  T3 has been in charge for a few months and Derek's job is safe.  If I'm Falvey I'm thinking "ah good, another Pohlad who talks about accountability but keeps doing things the same way they've always done things.  Nothing to worry about."

Let's think about it.  Derek has 2 jobs, baseball and business ops.  We know what has happened with the baseball product.  3 different Pohlads have brought on and kept on Falvey now.  It's safe to assume whatever goals the Pohlads have for Falvey, he meets or exceeds them.  3 different Pohlads like what Derek does and seem quite satisfied with his performance.  Obviously it isn't about winning.  What could it be?

 

 

[thelanges5]

Actions speak louder than words. Most of what Tom said was good but some of it was a little off. On a recent Gleeman and the Geek, Aaron and TFT said 70/30. As in 70% of what he said was the right stuff and 30% felt odd. 
 

Regardless, the Twins are one of only a couple teams that have 1 person in charge of business and baseball operations. Falvey should only be doing one of those roles. I’d say put him on the business side and get somebody new in to run the baseball operations.

[bean5302]

2 hours ago, Dawgzilla said:

No, being he is operating in the parameters set forth by the Pohlads.  Give him the money and results should change.

While I have felt the Twins have been given enough resources, putting together the history paints a rough picture. Data from opening day payroll figures BaseballCube.com

Since Falvey started in 2017
Teams highlighted in blue = won at least 1 World Series
Teams highlighted in green = went to the World Series
League highlighted in blue = won at least 1 league Championship
League highlighted in green = went to the league Championship.

It's a very stark picture which supports the haves/have nots arguments people have been making on this site. While the have nots still very frequently make the playoffs, they rarely advance far. If you spend, you have a high degree of likelihood you'll make it to at least the league championship. The results are sorted by total spent, but even if you sort by median, the results are pretty similar.

 

[nicksaviking]

I don't take Tom as a nuanced baseball guy; I'm guessing the new 'hands on' approach will be he and the new partners improving the business side of the organization first. The business/marketing/PR side of things is a disaster, and wins on the field next year will likely only marginally improve that because fans have already turned on the team and ownership. So at this point, I'd think Falvey and the actual team is a secondary concern for them until the primary goal is in better focus.

But even if they were looking to improve the on field stuff ASAP, it was already too late in the year to fire Falvey. I know everyone wants him out, but while it's quiet for fans right now, there's a ton going on behind the scenes, and if Falvey were to be fired, they'd basically have on options except to just promote the next man up. And I'm guessing most on this board want a clean house. I can't imagine anyone in ownership is qualified to identify a new POB, so they'll need to hire a search firm. The firm will need to find new outside options from other teams, while other teams are currently gearing up for the 2026 season. Not to mention, with the CBA expiring, and with the Twins still looking like a team soon to be sold, are they really going to get GOOD candidates to interview? Then when they hire that person, they have to repeat the process and hire everyone below them. Front office, scouts, stat-heads.

Falvey's job was safe about a week after the regular season ended.

[laloesch]

18 hours ago, bean5302 said:

While I have felt the Twins have been given enough resources, putting together the history paints a rough picture. Data from opening day payroll figures BaseballCube.com

Since Falvey started in 2017
Teams highlighted in blue = won at least 1 World Series
Teams highlighted in green = went to the World Series
League highlighted in blue = won at least 1 league Championship
League highlighted in green = went to the league Championship.

It's a very stark picture which supports the haves/have nots arguments people have been making on this site. While the have nots still very frequently make the playoffs, they rarely advance far. If you spend, you have a high degree of likelihood you'll make it to at least the league championship. The results are sorted by total spent, but even if you sort by median, the results are pretty similar.

 

Bingo. And nobody wants to hear it here especially because of certain reasons but a HARD salary cap is DESPERATELY needed no ifs ands or buts. 200-250 million cap. You can’t have a handful of teams spending 400-450 million and then another slightly larger group below it spending 250-350 million and then everyone else in the low 100's and expect any parity in the league.  The statistics don't lie.  Those that spend big consistently make it to the playoffs and go deep into the playoffs and make it to the World Series on a consistent basis.  This year was a perfect example of that.  The Blue Jays were a good team but just couldn't compete with the Dodgers who are deep in almost every position but particularly pitching, because they have the money.  But who are the repeat contestants in the playoffs year over year.  Yankees, Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox, Phillies, Rangers, Astros, and now it appears the Blue Jays are going to be long term big spenders.  The Braves and Nationals are on the fringe and the Giants, Angels, and Cubs spend big most years but have organizational difficulties and are poorly run and fall apart before making the playoffs, but they are still big spenders.  So essentially you have 13 teams that are consistently knocking on the door in the playoffs and typically win the world series and the other 17 remaining teams occasionally make the playoffs but never win it. The Dodgers are set to DOMINATE the rest of this decade, till 2030.  They are neck deep in good pitching prospects and hitters.  They wouldn't be able to do that without the MASSIVE payroll and the deferred salaries they are giving out.

I still firmly believe 2027 is gonna be a lost season. I think the league is not gonna accept anything less than a hard cap this time, despite the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, and maybe one or two other owners, who are gonna fight it along with the Players Union of course.

MLB is behind the times. The NHL, NBA, and NFL excepted rationality decades ago with salary caps, but baseball didn’t.

[Thumbs Down Guy]

Aaa

Edited December 22, 2025 by Thumbs Down Guy
Wanted to delete comment

[DocBauer]

Look, ownership and the FO are a combination here. While I've been very frustrated at times with ownership over the years, at times they've stepped up. Never enough to my liking, and not often enough, but at times they have. And I've never been a big banger on the FO...as they've had their hands tied at times...because Falvey and company have brought about some really, really fun seasons over the past 8 years or so.

My "dislike" towards ownership really changed following 2023. It's nice Tom has now stated what a HUGE mistake that was. OK. It's done. Now show me your recent comments hold water going forward. And my occasional disagreements with the FO have really grown over the past couple of seasons...despite the cutbacks that hampered them...for moves made and not made to the point where I've been ready for changes.

HOWEVER, I actually believe Falvey really and truly had no idea how to proceed until recently for 2026. I don't know if it's due more to getting the minority owners in place, OR, more to do with the internal squabbles within the Pohlad family and this new reorganization. I think it's more the latter. And I'm not willing to give Falvey and company a PASS for 2026 by any means. But there IS a reality...whether you wish to admit it or not...that nothing was SETTLED until basically mid December. That's a bit of a roadblock towards the offseason and any plans to be made.

But do I believe that Falvey and company have warm seats anyway? You bet I do. Now, does that mean massive, sweeping changes are due post 2026 if the team disappoints? I don't know. I guess it depends on whether or not the bottom just drops out, which I'm not exactly expecting.

I believe, with a new GM...who's role and power we really don't know at this point...a new manager, and a collection of new coaches, the final record may not even be an indicator of change. We might see a .500 team, give or take, that is fun, interesting, and competitive with rebounds from certain key players, and the debut of top prospects, and solid performances from FA additions, etc. that offers real optimism going forward. OR, we might see a .500 team, give or take, that is fun, interesting, and competitive with rebounds from certain key players, and the debut of top prospects, and yet the team might just look disappointing by being sloppy, or leaving potential wins on the field as losses, etc.

*I'm leaving just "tanking" off my projections due to a certain level of optimism and belief of talent on hand.

Despite what 2027 may offer in a lockout and negotiations and the such, I believe POST 2026 will STILL require an honest evaluation not so much on the coaching staff, but the OVERALL feel of the trajectory of the team, including the MILB system. 

Fair or not, Falvey will need to be re-evaluated in his role. The Pohlads may love him, but his BASEBALL vision just might be wrong. So maybe he keeps his job on the BUSINESS side of things, and they decide to bring in a different voice/leader for the BASEBALL side of the operation. So I don't know that Falvey's employment is in question. But I think this is a "hot seat" season for him to prove he can also provide an actual PLAN and VISION for the BASEBALL side of the operation. 

And honestly, even if the Twins look good in 2026 and have a competitive year, were I an owner, I'd STILL have questions about ONE GUY trying to handle BOTH SIDES of an organization. Even if the Twins have a solid 2026, I'd seriously just remove Falvey from the baseball side and bring in someone else to just run the baseball side of things. In today's market, IMO, it's just too hard to have ONE GUY in charge of so much.

So yes, Falvey is on a "hot seat" to prove he can fill dual roles. And while I like a lot of what he's done in his tenure, I've also seen enough that he should be moved permanently to one role, the business side, and bring in someone else to "tweak" what Falvey STARTED and make it better.

[SteveLV]

Every fan with any sense knows MLB is not fair and balanced.

However, given that environment and existing owners who do not want to spend, why on earth do you want to hold on to players you have no intention of signing/extending?  It seems illogical and idiotic.  

Trade off the players you will not/cannot extend, gather young cheap talent and let the chips fall where they may.

Then hope and pray that sanity prevails during the next CBA negotiation to save this game we all love.

[LastOnePicked]

To me, the danger of keeping Falvey is that he's fighting for job security. And if he's fighting for job security, he's going to continue to make short-term decisions to try and make the team seem more competitive than it really is. It's one thing to have a deadline fire sale that brings back a haul of high end A and AA prospects. But to also target "MLB-ready" talent was just so unwise. Top teams don't typically part with players on the cusp of MLB stardom - they typically part with once-promising prospects who have proven in early stints that they won't live up to the hype. Outman, Roden and Bradley are all more likely to be future DFA candidates than to be future MLB stars.

But Falvey has put himself on the line. He convinced the ownership group that the Fangraphs early projection was proof that the roster "core" can compete and should stay intact. If young players can step up, if Ryan, Lopez, Buxton and Jeffers can lead by example, and if the team makes the playoffs, he may end up looking like a genius and earning himself an extension. But, in the more likely event that the team can't patch the holes left from last year's fire sale and the veterans who had maximum value this offseason have minimum to zero value at the trade deadline, then that should finally be the end of the Derek Falvey experience in MN. I will never root against the Twins, but I expect this will all end pretty badly come August.

[Markdumont25]

5 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I don't know. I guess it depends on whether or not the bottom just drops out, which I'm not exactly expecting.

I think there's a very good chance that the bottom does fall out... Is this team going to be significantly different from the team that we finished with last year? I don't see it...and that version of the Twins was one of the worst teams in the league. 

Baseball is unpredictable, but I think it's entirely possible that we have a disaster of a season. What then? It will be interesting.