Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was originally signed to a four-year deal that ran from 2019 to 2022 with multiple club options. It was reported in September of last year that he would be retained for 2023 but it wasn’t clear if the club had simply picked up an option or worked out a new contract. Now Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Twins picked up those options prior to last season and gave Baldelli an extension that goes through at least 2025.
It’s unknown exactly how long the new contract is, but it’s notable it goes for at least two more seasons beyond the current campaign. That means there’s no immediate concern about a “lame duck” situation and it also shows the organization has plenty of faith in the work Baldelli has done.
Baldelli’s tenure has seen the club post inconsistent results. His first two seasons each resulted in the Twins topping the American League Central, going 101-61 in 2019 and then 36-24 in the shortened 2020 season. However, that was followed up by a disappointing 73-89 showing in 2021. Despite that rough campaign, the club’s decision makers evidently felt good enough about having Baldelli at the helm to quietly work out a new deal to keep him around longer.
Last year, they were leading the division for most of the season but stumbled down the stretch as various injuries mounted, eventually leading to a 78-84 record and a third-place finish. Through the early going here in 2023, they are on the upswing again, though thanks in large part to their weak division. They’re the only club in the Central with a winning record, currently at 25-22. That’s enough for a lead of 3.5 games over the second-place Tigers, even though the Twins have the same record as the Blue Jays, who are in the basement of the AL East.
The club is clearly in win-now mode, having given out huge contracts to players like Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton in recent years, as well as trading for high-profile players like Sonny Gray and Pablo López. More disappointing results would increase the temperature under Baldelli’s seat but it seems that he’s currently quite comfortable in the dugout in Minnesota.
Add a veteran guy in the bullpen. And get guys healthy. Hitting will come. Twins are the best team in the A.L Central
Kind of like being Billy Madison dominating a 1st grade class at recess.
Got to pay up to capture the trendy names… OMG he was with Tampa Bay too? He has to be amazing. Analytics, & such.
He was a beast in TB, and injuries ended his career. One of those players who coulda been a perennial all-star, but had a choice to keep trying and break your body or retire at a young age. Those were fun days at the trip – someone could foul off a pitch and you could wait and grab it a few innings later.
Good for him, but honestly, they should be doing better than 25-22 record so far. The manager needs to light a fire under some of his star players.
They are relying on Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton far too much and they are not producing at all. Even with Buxton being DH, it still doesn’t matter.
Some guys are better at the plate when they play defense too. I think Buxton would rather be on both sides of the ball but Correa had him over for dinner one night & convinced him to DH only in order to minimize chance of injury.
Even if they DO make the playoffs, the Twins will still get swept in their first series yet again.
he’s been terrible, but he’s a puppet for the front office so this isn’t surprising. as long as the GM is there, rocco will be too
Rocco has no idea how to be a manager. He can’t manage men.
It always amazes me when people claim managers can’t manage or that they’ve been terrible when they clearly have no clue what they’re talking about
You’re easily amazed.
Amazed and amused. Dazed and confused.
“It always amazes me when people have a different opinion than mine because it’s clear only my opinion is valid.”
Fixed that for you, @qbert1996
Weird ass Minnesota twins doing weird ass things
Thrown out of a game because he objected to the Yankees cheating.
MLB is a shipshow.
But good for him, an amazing story of perseverance and a very intelligent man.
Woonsocket Rocket!
That umpire crew owes Rocco a day of pay
“We’ll do anything we want, Rocco. Deal with it.”
– NY American League Baseball Club
Can’t say I’m a big fan of Baldelli’s choices as manager, but I’m not going to lose any sleep over it. Manager salaries aren’t high enough to prevent a team from moving on even if the manager is under contract. It’s pretty much a non-issue.
Rocco is good with the flow charts and such, but has no instinct and little idea how to anticipate and actually manage in game.
I think chief in my complaints about Rocco is his propensity to try and rest players all the time. Nearly a full guess on my part, but I get the feeling Rocco feels like he wants to save the players from breaking down and washing out like Baldelli did. It doesn’t work that way.
I’m hoping they clean house on 1 Twins way. Front office is as clueless and subpar as they come. Seems like Rocco is learning the job on the fly. Twins territory deserves better than a mediocre club. We have the talent to have a double digit lead in the pathetic central.
Nick Gordon as a Swiss Army knife for years to come!
Who pinch hits for a player before their first at bat without any injury, etc? Thinks he’s smarter than everyone else, when In reality opposite is true. Just look at who was warming up and for how long prior to the game. Heck, read what everyone else was saying. Everyone knew that Mannea was going to pitch, except for some reason Rocco didn’t. It’s this lack of simple awareness or maybe it’s just cockiness that makes him dangerous and inept