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Last week, national MLB reporter Jon Morosi named Alex Anthopoulos as a "confirmed candidate" for Minnesota's new baseball ops chief position. A few days later, Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press followed up with a report that Anthopoulos had taken his name out of the hat.
While it's disappointing that the Twins won't be able to further pursue Anthopoulos, the fact that he was a legitimate consideration is encouraging. He is exactly the type of person that many fans would like to see tabbed for this vital role.
Formerly the general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, Anthopoulos is an outsider with background in both scouting and analytics. He has historically had an active and aggressive style when it comes to making moves and building rosters. Under his watch, the Blue Jays developed into an AL East powerhouse. They reached the postseason last year for the first time in two decades and are aiming for a return this year with a roster primarily crafted by Anthopolous.
Alas, he won't be coming aboard. But we continue to see intriguing names pop up in the search for a top baseball exec.
On Monday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the Twins had formally requested permission to interview Jason McLeod, who serves under Theo Epstein in the Chicago Cubs front office. The Cubs, owners of baseball's best record, boast one of the premier rosters and systems in the game. Their organization is a natural choice to scour for executive talent.
McLeod, in particular, is a compelling name. As Berardino notes, he previously served as Epstein's scouting director in Boston, and is credited with drafting a number of high-profile stars such as Dustin Pedroia, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber. Given Minnesota's struggles converting high draft picks into contributors lately, McLeod's track record in this regard is appealing.
Another candidate that the Twins appear to be considering, according to Jon Heyman, is J.J. Piccolo. The 45-year-old currently serves as assistant GM in charge of scouting and player development for the Kansas City Royals.
The Royals, like the Cubs, are a franchise worth emulating. Over the past 10 years, they have climbed from being AL Central bottom-feeders to two-time league champs, and that's exactly the type of path the Twins would like to follow (albeit in a shorter timeframe).
Piccolo originally came up as a scout in the Braves system before spending the past decade with the Royals. He was at one point last year considered a finalist for the Phillies GM gig before Matt Klentak ended up being chosen. Given his role in constructing an elite defensive club in Kansas City, as well as his familiarity with the division (which means he likely also has better-than-average familiarity with the Twins and their personnel), Piccolo looks like a logical guy to vet.
McLeod and Piccolo both are highly respected front office execs that many around the game view as GM-in-waiting types. Both also have few, if any, ties to the Twins organization, meaning they would bring the wholly fresh perspective that so many are yearning for in a new hire.
One tricky thing that the Twins must balance is the urgency to fill their opening with the desire to interview individuals who remain focused on the postseason. This isn't so much of an issue with Piccolo, whose Royals are likely to miss the playoffs for the first time in three years. But it is with McLeod, whose Cubs are poised for a deep October run.
Waiting out a guy like McLeod means postponing any serious offseason planning that he would spearhead, and also means delaying the process of finding a new GM, which will be task No. 1 for whoever takes over the baseball ops unit.
With a decision carrying this much gravity, obviously the Twins and assisting search firm Korn Ferry need to take their time and ensure they get the best person for the job. But then, the team is looking ahead to a winter filled with critical choices that require proactive thinking. There's a tenuous timeline at play with the Hot Stove market firing up almost immediately after the World Series concludes.
That said, it sounds as though the Twins are already deeply immersed in the task. They have reportedly conducted interviews with multiple candidates, and seeing the club publicly connected to coveted names like McLeod and Piccolo is a positive omen. So, too, is their preference for "someone who's more on the analytical side," per a Berardino source.
Stay tuned to Twins Daily in the coming weeks and we'll keep you posted up-to-the-minute on every development that emerges as the team narrows its search.
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