Thad Levine has stepped down from his position as senior vice president and general manager of the Twins, a role he has held since November 2016. The team announced his decision in a press release on Friday morning, explaining, “After eight seasons of significant contributions and leadership, Thad Levine will depart the Minnesota Twins organization to pursue new challenges and opportunities, both inside and outside of baseball.”
The news of Levine’s departure comes just a few days after the Twins confirmed chief baseball officer Derek Falvey and manager Rocco Baldelli would return in 2025. Levine has been working under Falvey for the past eight years. The pair led the team to three division titles and four playoff appearances between 2017-23, with the 2023 club finally ending the franchise’s 18-game postseason losing streak.
The 2024 campaign ended in disappointment, however, with a 13-27 record over the final 40 games of the season pushing the Twins out of a playoff position and into fourth place in the AL Central. While injuries and underperformance played a big role in the team’s downfall, so did a slow offseason and quiet trade deadline, during which Falvey and Levine did little to improve the club. It’s difficult to say how much of the blame lies with the front office as opposed to ownership, which forced the team to cut payroll. Regardless, it’s not hard to see why Levine was ready to seek new opportunities elsewhere. It’s possible the Twins didn’t want him back either, but the press release presents it as Levine’s decision. Furthermore, one would think that if ownership and executive chairman Joe Pohlad were displeased with the direction of the team, Falvey would be looking for a new job as well. Both Falvey and Levine’s contacts were believed to be expiring at the end of the 2024 season.
Prior to joining the Twins, Levine spent several years as an assistant GM for the Rangers. More recently, he has pursued top decision-making jobs around the league; the Twins gave permission for him to interview with the Phillies in 2020 and the Red Sox in 2023. Other teams that have shown interest in Levine in the past include the Mets and Rockies. Interestingly, however, he ultimately took himself out of the running for all those jobs.
If Levine wants a new job in baseball, it doesn’t seem as if he’d have any trouble landing one. He will surely be a candidate for any “chief decision-maker” openings around the league. It’s less clear if he would be interested in taking on another job where he would only be second-in-command, such as with the Giants. San Francisco is looking for a GM to replace Pete Putila and work under new president of baseball operations Buster Posey. For what it’s worth, the fact that Levine chose to remain underneath Falvey for so long – despite other opportunities – suggests he prioritizes his work environment over his status. Perhaps the Giants’ larger payroll will convince him to give the Bay Area a try.
benhen77
Sure, let’s fire a bunch of random coaches and Falvey’s number two, but not offer any public accountability for the true leaders- Pohlad,Baldelli, and Falvey.
pohle
pretty much seems like there was an agreement to let levine take the blame
layventsky
Can’t fire the owner unless it’s a Donald Sterling type of situation.
SweetBabyRayKingsThickThighs
Do the ol bait and record for reactions it works every time
refereemn77
At the presser, Baldelli and Falvey were genuine in their responsibility and the clear failure of the season.
All blame for the 2024 season belongs to the business management side of the house: Club Pres Dave St. Peter and ownership.
SonnySteele
I’m just wondering if Leo Morgenstern is related to Rhoda.
Flanster
One of them is fictional
mlb fan
“One of them is fictional”..It must be “Leo” that’s “fictional” then because “Rhoda” is very much real.
Next, you’ll be telling us that Sue Nivens, Georgette, Ted Baxter, Mr. Grant and Mary Tyler Moore are “fictional” too, right Flanster?
For Love of the Game
Say it isn’t so!!!!
Flanster
Mary Tyler Moore is real. The others are fictional characters created by Norman Lear and played by actors. And Valerie Harper played the character of “Rhoda Morgenstern But, nice try anyway.
Troy Percival's iPad
Flanster
Leo Morgenstern and Ryan Mountcastle are two of my favorite people in baseball.
Allegedly they exist. There’s a paper trail. But there’s still serious doubts…
RunDMC
Correa will outlast them all.
CravenMoorehead
Unless Correa goes with everyone to get a massage
cooperhill
Diarrhea
nukeg
If you could fire the owner, Arte Moreno would be selling pet insurance by now.
Slider_withcheese
GMs get too much credit and GMs take way too much blame.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Unless you are in New York they get fair accountability
For Love of the Game
Disagree. GMs select the players, whom to draft, trade for, sign as free agents, etc. Many also hire minor league coaches and development staff. Owners can open or close the wallet, but GMs control much of what else can be controlled.
myaccount2
If he’s legitimately stepping down and not actually pushed out, then he probably chose that route because Pohlad has suggested the budget won’t increase and he knows him and Falvey are both dead men walking.
solaris602
It should be interesting to see who his replacement is. My guess is it will be an internal promotion. Bring in someone from the outside and you’re potentially dealing with a “Baldelli isn’t his guy” situation which is why Rocco’s predecessor was shown the door.
MysteryWhiteBoy13
Does Shapiro change his mind about Atkins now?
Seems a better alternative just presented itself, but everyone else already knew there were many better options
UncleJesse
We don’t want him in San Francisco but I’m sure that Buster already has a Full House of options currently.
HAVE MERCY.
BigBallsLongBat
“We” lol
UncleJesse
SmallBallsShortBat,
“We” the fans. Thanks.
SweetBabyRayKingsThickThighs
Buster will being him in as an assistant GM to be the first member of the Posey Posse(TM)
cooperhill
Thad was bad
It’s so sad
Fans were mad
Now their glad!
CTS4
Hey shapiro in Toronto , You are a lousy GM, take your Flunkie atkins and step down !!!
You have NEVER built a winning baseball team !!
utah cornelius
If Steinbrenner hadn’t made the egregiously stupid move of doubling-down on Cashman with a long term contract not so long ago, Levine would be a huge improvement. Heck, what Steinbrenner really should do is swallow the loss and cut Cashman loose. Levine’s no superman as a GM in general, but he IS compared to Cashman. That guy is actually an albatross. Since 2001, they have won one WS in 24 years (yes, I’m betting they don’t win this year; they may have somehow lead the league in wins, but they still aren’t built for the postseason: a lineup with just two real threats, an unreliable rotation, and a sloppy bullpen, especially when Boone relies on Holmes. Yeah, and then there’s Boone and his decisions). And he coinsistently has had a top teir payroll while failing.
The postseason IS a crapshoot. You CAN increase your odds of getting in by buying a seat, but it’s almost impossible to buy the WS. But still, Cashman has had so many more opportunities than any other GM, it’s hard to fathom how poor his WS track record has been. He should walk out over sheer embarassment, and just hide somewhere outside the public eye.
If the NYY win the WS again under Cashman, it will be in spite of his percentage of damaging blunders, selecting/pulling in mediocre talent, doing poor drafting and player development, and plundering the talent they do get into their minor league teams.
Painful to watch. Must be a real source of heartache and heartburn for their fans.
For a terrific presentation of Cashman’s failure:
keefetothecity.com/hal-steinbrenner-gives-brian-ca…
crise
Does anyone have any feel at all for the separation of duties between Levine and Falvey? Who did what, which tasks were not executed well, or was this simply a matter of succession looking unlikely enough to not bother waiting any longer?
There was never a point where I could have guessed which of them was the boss based on what they said or did, so I kind of think there were no clear lines and fully expected them to be kept or cut as a unit. So this comes as a bit of a surprise to me. I wonder if they replace him or just promote someone out of the way from below to improve another part of the org. (Because let’s face it: one more bad year and the current administration is going to be facing some hard questions.)
Butter Biscuits
Good time to trade buxton