The Dodgers are bringing Rocco Baldelli into their front office, reports Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune. He will be a special assistant to president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, per Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic.
As noted by Nightengale, Friedman and Baldelli overlapped in the Rays organization many years ago. Baldelli spent almost his entire playing career with the Rays. He was drafted by that club in 2000 and retired with them in 2011, though he had a brief stint with the Red Sox in 2009. After retiring as a player, he transitioned into coaching with the Rays, having various titles over a number of years. Friedman worked with the Rays from 2004 to 2014 before joining the Dodgers.
Baldelli jumped from the Rays to the Twins to become the manager in Minnesota, beginning with the 2019 season. The initial returns were very good. The Twins went 101-61 in 2019 and won the American League Central. Baldelli was given American League Manager of the Year honors. They repeated as division champs in 2020. Then came a bit of a swoon, with the Twins dipping beneath .500 in 2021 and 2022. They bounced back by winning the Central again in 2023.
Things tailed off again more recently. In both 2024 and 2025, Minnesota was contending for a while but finished poorly. In 2024, they were holding onto a playoff spot for much of the year but mounting injuries knocked them down late in the schedule. They finished 82-80 and outside the playoff picture. In 2025, they hovered near contention for a few months but fell back in the summer, prompting the front office to engineer a big deadline sell-off. The club finished 70-92. The Twins fired Baldelli at the end of the season.
There will be differences of opinion when it comes to how much blame Baldelli deserves for those poor results. The manager surely has some impact but he can only work with the players he is given and Twins ownership also scaled back spending in recent years.
Baldelli has said he is interested in managing again. Shortly after being fired by the Twins, he was connected to the vacancies with the Angels and Nationals, though those jobs went to Kurt Suzuki and Blake Butera respectively. Perhaps Baldelli will consider similar opportunities in the future. For now, he will take a job with the reigning champs.
Photo courtesy of Brett Davis, Imagn Images
They can’t keep getting away with this!
First they came for the closers . . .
Hahaha
People may think it’s a joke but they literally stole Friedman from the Rays. They’ll take whatever coach or player they want.
With what? Hiring a guy who was fired?
Everyone gets fired in baseball eventually.
He wasn’t fired, he was courted.
mc courted?
@Rays
They’re talking about Baldelli being fired.
Friedman left for a better job and a chance to build a dynasty. It happens. 3 championships later looks like a smart move.
Here come the people that will think they are clever with their “Dodgers are ruining baseball” jokes.
I am guilty of it, but to be fair it is funny haha!
In Russia baseball ruins you!
@Acoss1331
Funny as a rubber crutch.
Baldelli going for the ring.
Yes folks, we deferred his contract as well. ; p
It’s not fair! Dodgers are taking all the good toys and hoarding them! Mom, Dodgers won’t share their toys!
Office assistant?
Rocco, makin copies.
He makes deli runs, as his name suggests.
He was always fast on his feet…should come in handy.
Adding another good baseball mind to the organization is smart. He’s likely going to get a Manager job somewhere next off-season. But why not add a different perspective when you have the opportunity?
yes, that is a good idea. but, they hired Baldelli
Who managed winning seasons until the team sold off pieces.
Lol. wouldn’t have had to sell off pieces if he could manage. then, has a vendetta against Royce Lewis – batting him 7th late in the season. good luck with Rocco Raccoon
It’ll be a rough season having him in the organization. But I’m sure they’ll be able to struggle through it.
Willi Castro incoming to replace Chris Taylor
What does a front office assistant do, other than make copies and get the coffee and donuts?
I just watched an MLB channel interview with Friedman. He said he’s going to be working with some of the young outfielders, among other things across the organization.
Really praised his communication skills and his ability to connect with players. Apparently he’s a very good human and an exceptional baseball mind.
So he fits right in.
I thought the title was kind of funny. In most organizations an “assistant” is the lowest form of life, the gopher.
Blue; Farhan Zadi on line 2 for you.
Take a message and tell them I’ll call back.
Special Assistants to GM or CBO or PBO are usually brought in to work on a special assignment, as was noted. They’re not administrative assistants.
I realize. But many of these special assistants disappear into the shadows and are never heard from again.
Blue
Because it isn’t their job to stand out and be seen. They have a job to do behind the scenes.
You barely see Gomes, and he’s the GM lol. And that’s on purpose. Friedman and Roberts are the public facing guys, which allows everyone else to go about their business day to day.
Well, I think we all know what Gomes is doing, and he’s often quoted in media reports. But did you know that Chase Utley is the Special Assistant to the President? He got this appointment from the Dodgers right after he retired as a player. He made a few appearances on SNLA pre- and postgame broadcasts, and then gone. Never even spotted at a game to my knowledge. Yet he is still listed as a “special assistant” in the FO directory. I’ve often wondered why some players remain on payroll with these vague job titles and no apparent duties.
They usually work with minor league players and teams. Otherwise they are scouting.
Your guess is as good as mine, only I’m not guessing.
I’m personally tired of orgs making up titles just to hire people. Rays do it all the time and it’s a huge joke. Too many cooks.
The Dodgers just lost a huge front office piece to the Rockies. So adding a very good baseball mind makes sense on many levels.
Coordinates the department potluck picnic signup sheet. Otherwise, too many people sign up to bring condiments and nobody brings hot dogs.
Not to mention buns.
Dodgers love to hand out these pillow contracts to out of work execs.
Hiring smart guys when they’re available seems like a good move…
Maybe a front office salary cap? Teams could agree to that amongst themselves, no union involved there. 😀
That’s where the Dodgers really play the system. How else do you constantly have a top 3 farm system that never picks in the first round?
Thought he might stick as manager. White Sox, Marlins, .Baltimore, Toronto, Houston, all seem like Baldelli would be an upgrade.
Now I’m really mad at the Twins.
Those mad lads have done it again!
Some “heavy lifting” by Friedman right there….
Dodgers playing 3D chess and everyone else is playing checkers.
Yo! Hes Rocco Baldelli,and they made him an offer he couldn’t refuse..Just when he thought he was out they dragged him back in…
(References credited TGF 1 and 3)
Please never quote 3.
Noted.
He was quoting The Sopranos quoting GF3