Former Twins Manager Rocco Baldelli Pulls Out of Mariners Manager Search

Rocco Baldelli will not be the next manager of the Seattle Mariners. The former Minnesota Twins skipper has withdrawn from consideration for the position, leaving another managerial opening without one of its reported candidates.

According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, Baldelli removed himself from Seattle’s search because of “family considerations.” The decision comes one year after the Twins dismissed him following a disappointing 2025 campaign and raises questions about when he might return to a major league dugout.

For Twins fans, the news provides another reminder of a manager whose tenure included both considerable success and a frustrating conclusion. Baldelli is currently working as a special assistant to Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. He spent the 2026 season in that front office after managing Minnesota for seven seasons.

Looking Back at Baldelli’s Twins Tenure

The Twins hired Baldelli before the 2019 season, and he immediately helped transform the team into a contender. Minnesota won 101 games in his first season, setting a franchise record for victories and earning Baldelli American League Manager of the Year honors.

That season established a pattern of regular-season success. Baldelli guided the Twins to three American League Central titles and three postseason appearances during his time in Minnesota. The club finished with a 527-505 regular-season record under his leadership.

His tenure also included a long-awaited postseason breakthrough. Minnesota swept the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2023 American League Wild Card Series, earning its first playoff series victory since 2002. However, the Twins could not sustain that momentum. A September collapse in 2024 cost the team another postseason opportunity, and the club finished 70-92 in 2025.

The final season became especially difficult after Minnesota dismantled much of its roster at the trade deadline. The organization traded numerous established players as it shifted its focus, leaving Baldelli to manage a depleted team through the end of the campaign. The Twins dismissed him after the season, ending a seven-year run that featured division titles, postseason disappointment and significant organizational changes.

Is Baldelli Done Managing?

Baldelli's decision to withdraw from Seattle's search does not necessarily mean he has abandoned the idea of managing again. After Minnesota dismissed him, he expressed interest in returning to a dugout while also acknowledging the importance of spending time with his family.

Taking a front-office position with the Dodgers allowed him to remain connected to baseball without immediately jumping into another demanding managerial job. His experience with Minnesota, including his emphasis on analytics, defense and communication, could still appeal to organizations seeking a new direction.

Seattle had emerged as a potential landing spot. The Mariners are looking for a replacement for Dan Wilson after finishing the 2026 season with a 76-86 record. Former Houston Astros manager Joe Espada and Chicago Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler have also been reported as candidates.

Baldelli's withdrawal removes a recognizable name from Seattle's search, but it leaves his own baseball future open. Whether he pursues another managerial opportunity this offseason or remains with the Dodgers, his next move will be worth watching in Minnesota.

For the Twins, Baldelli's departure marked the end of an era. His latest decision offers no immediate change for the organization, but it keeps the former manager's name in the conversation as teams across baseball look for leadership ahead of 2027.