Down to Four Managerial Finalists; What Each Could Bring to the Twins

The Twins are entering a moment of reset. With the front office evaluating roster construction and a clubhouse that needs a clearer voice, the managerial decision feels like more than a change on paper. This is a hire that will shape how young players are used, how veterans are managed, and how the team approaches both development and competition in the years ahead. That context helps explain why Minnesota is weighing both familiarity and a fresh perspective.

Rocco Baldelli was the face of the Twins for seven seasons, a manager who delivered division titles and an AL Manager of the Year award but who also closed his tenure with two disappointing seasons in a row. The front office moved on after a 2025 campaign that ended with the club losing 92 games, and the organization signaled it wants a different voice in the dugout going forward.

Multiple reports indicate the Twins have whittled the search down to four candidates: Derek Shelton, James Rowson, Ryan Flaherty, and Scott Servais. The names tell you a lot about what Minnesota is considering: experience with the current front office and a mix of proven managers and high-level coaches who know today’s players. 

Derek Shelton
Why He is Here: Shelton is the most Minnesota familiar name on the list. He served as the Twins' bench coach during the club’s transition to the Baldelli era and was a finalist in the 2018 search that ultimately brought Baldelli to Minnesota. That prior relationship with Derek Falvey and members of the front office seems to matter a great deal to the club as it seeks a steady hand who understands the organization's culture and roster construction philosophy. 

The Managerial Résumé and Caveats: Shelton’s big-league managerial track record comes from his five-plus seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he struggled to win consistently with a club that lacked top-tier talent because the ownership group didn’t invest in the team (sound familiar?). The Pirates fired him after a rough start to a recent season, and his overall record as a big-league manager is well below a five-hundred winning percentage. That history means hiring him is a bet that familiarity and clubhouse fit will trump results elsewhere.

James Rowson
Why He is Here: Rowson is an offensive teacher with deep ties to the Twins organization. He was the Twins' hitting coach during the 2019 season when Minnesota’s offense put up historic totals, and he interviewed for the manager position in that earlier 2018 cycle. After stints in Miami, Detroit, and with the Yankees, he has continued to build a reputation as a developer of hitters and a steady clubhouse presence. For a team looking to have young bats take steps forward, Rowson offers credibility with hitters and experience running a major league staff.

The Managerial Résumé and Caveats: Rowson is not a proven big-league manager, but he is a familiar voice whom the Twins have already evaluated closely. According to the report from The Athletic, he was also very impressive during his interview with the Twins. If Minnesota wants an emphasis on offense, player development, and continuity with players who already respect the organization, Rowson checks many boxes. The main question is whether the front office wants someone who can be a strong in-game strategist beyond hitting instruction.

Ryan Flaherty
Why He is Here: Flaherty has been rising through the big-league coaching ranks quickly. A former utility man with eight seasons of major league playing time, he began coaching in San Diego and later served as the Cubs' bench coach under Craig Counsell. He has been in the conversation for multiple managerial openings, and his candidacy here suggests Minnesota is evaluating a younger coach who has experience in modern clubhouse management and analytics-friendly staffs. He fits a mold similar to Baldelli's when the Twins hired him. 

The Managerial Résumé and Caveats: Flaherty is attractive because he blends recent playing experience with rapid coaching growth, and he is considered a good communicator. He would represent a cleaner break from the Baldelli era than rehiring someone from that staff while still being connected to front offices and managers who have had success. The risk is that he is a first-time manager candidate at the big-league level, and Minnesota would have to decide whether it wants a developmental coach or a tested leader.

Scott Servais
Why He is Here: Servais brings the most established managerial résumé of the group. He spent nine seasons managing the Seattle Mariners, posting a winning percentage above .500 and producing several high-win seasons, including multiple campaigns with at least 86 wins. He is viewed as an experienced leader who has navigated playoff expectations and long-term roster building. After Seattle moved on from him, he worked as a special assistant for the Padres, keeping him close to the game and on other teams’ radars. 

The Managerial Résumé and Caveats: Servais is appealing if the Twins want a tested manager who has been in high-stakes season-long battles and who can manage a clubhouse of veterans and prospects alike. The counterpoint is that Servais has not been part of the Twins culture recently, so he is more of an outside hire, and the club would have to weigh that against the value of continuity. Reports also suggest that other teams have eyed him, which could complicate the Twins' timeline.

This shortlist reads like a front office that values familiarity and development but is not closed to outside experience. Shelton and Rowson have the inside track and direct ties to the Twins' way of doing things. Flaherty and Servais offer fresh energy and proven managerial methods, respectively. Whichever direction Minnesota chooses will tell us more about whether the club wants to double down on internal continuity or pivot toward a new voice for the clubhouse and a new approach for the roster.

Which of the final four candidates makes the most sense? Leave a comment and start the discussion.