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A little over a year ago, Thad Levine's name was buzzing around the baseball world. The Minnesota Twins general manager was reportedly a finalist for the Boston Red Sox's coveted president of baseball operations role. For Levine, this seemed like the next step in a career that had seen him rise from assistant GM in Texas to one of the most respected front-office executives in the league.
Under his and Derek Falvey’s leadership, the Twins built a contender, producing division titles and fostering a culture that promoted great player development. However, the Red Sox ultimately chose Craig Breslow, a younger and less experienced candidate. That decision may have foreshadowed a troubling turn for Levine’s trajectory.
As the Twins wrap up a season that fell short of expectations in excruciating fashion, questions surrounding Levine's future have grown louder. Minnesota’s ownership has already said that Falvey will return in 2025, and in turn, Falvey stated that Rocco Baldelli will be back as the manager. However, it’s become increasingly clear that someone will need to take the fall for the disappointing results in 2024, and Levine, once a hot commodity, appears to be the likely candidate.
When Levine joined the Twins in 2016 alongside Falvey, the pair were touted as the dynamic duo who would finally bring Minnesota back into the fraternity of perennial contenders. The pair quickly showed their savvy, with the Twins reaching the postseason in 2017 and winning AL Central titles in 2019, 2020, and 2023. Under Levine’s guidance, Minnesota seemed primed for a sustained run of success. Scouting and player development had been his purview with the Rangers, and he continued to excel as a builder and shaper of the farm system.
But beyond regular-season victories, the team has collapsed in two of the last three seasons. Minnesota made waves in 2022 by signing Carlos Correa, hoping the team could recover after a disastrous 2021 season. Instead, the club fell apart in the second half and finished 14 games out of first place. The 2024 season will be remembered as one of the worst collapses in team history, with Minnesota having over 90% playoff odds in mid-August. In a results-driven league, those collapses (combined with some lackluster offseasons) tarnished his reputation.
Minneapolis hosted the SABR Convention back in August, and Levine was one of the speakers. He answered one panel question by noting that Falvey is very value-focused, very disciplined, and very far-sighted. Those traits are all a necessity for someone manning a president of baseball operations role. He went on to say that he saw himself as a bit more of the risk-taker--the one who could help make sure they weren't being too conservative. Losing that voice in the Twins’ front office could significantly alter the franchise’s direction, depending upon who stepped in to replace Levine.
One of the most significant risks taken during Levine’s tenure was the 2022 trade deadline deals. The biggest swing (and miss) was a trade with Cincinnati, acquiring Tyler Mahle in exchange for top prospects Spencer Steer, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Steve Hajjar. Mahle, brought in to solidify the rotation, succumbed to injuries, providing little return on investment before leaving the Twins with a depleted farm system and no ace to show for it.
At the same deadline, the Twins traded with the Orioles for All-Star reliever Jorge López. Minnesota sent four pitchers to Baltimore in the deal, including Yennier Canó, Cade Povich, Juan Nunez, and Juan Rojas. López struggled, with a 4.81 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP in 58 innings with the Twins before he was traded to Miami for Dylan Floro. Canó has developed into a solid late-inning option for the Orioles, while Povich has started to establish himself at the big-league level and pitched in the game that eliminated the Twins from playoff contention last week. It’s a trade that undoubtedly hurt the Twins farm system.
Levine can’t be blamed entirely for the failure of these trades, because Falvey remains the chief decision-maker. However, they were seen as aggressive at the time, which fits Levine’s self-identified traits. Other aggressive moves during the current regime have had varying levels of success. Signing Josh Donaldson was a failure, but the team found a way to dump the end of his contract. Trading Luis Arraez for López was a very aggressive move that has worked in the Twins’ favor.
Levine’s missed opportunity in Boston was a significant blow. Not only did it highlight that a storied franchise like the Red Sox, one of the game's most prestigious jobs, had passed on him, but they chose a less experienced alternative. The decision may have signaled a shift in how baseball front offices are viewed, with an emphasis on fresh ideas from someone with less front office experience. The Giants took a similar direction earlier this week by hiring former All-Star Buster Posey, who has no front office experience.
The Twins' front office has operated under a collaborative model, meaning both Levine and Falvey have had their fingerprints on significant decisions. However, it's hard to ignore the whispers that someone is on the hot seat after another underwhelming campaign. Levine, in particular, might be the easier target. The optics seem poor with his missed promotion to Boston and the Twins' recent stumbles.
Perhaps Levine will get another shot elsewhere—his track record, while not without blemishes, is still strong enough to draw interest from other teams. But as for Minnesota, a fresh voice might be what the organization needs as it looks to navigate the next phase of this competitive window. In the world of baseball, timing is everything, and unfortunately for Thad Levine, the clock may have run out in Minnesota.
Should the Twins move on from Levine? Leave a comment and start the discussion.
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- Cory Engelhardt, glunn, mikelink45 and 2 others
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