More chaos for AL Central squad as club president nudged out

A new year will apparently not bring any less chaos to the Minnesota Twins.

Derek Falvey, chief baseball officer since 2016, and the Twins are mutually parting ways, the team announced Jan. 30, the latest twist in a saga that’s seen the club put up for sale, take on additional investors, strip-mine the active roster for parts at the 2025 trade deadline and fire manager Rocco Baldelli.

Falvey, 43, was promoted to president of baseball operations in 2019 and elevated to president of business operations in March 2025. They won three American League Central titles in his tenure, including a 101-win season in 2019, Baldelli’s first as manager.

Yet the Pohlad family, ‘after months of thoughtful consideration,’ announced in October 2024 it was aiming to sell the team. They pulled the club off the market in 2025 and announced they were seeking new investors; in December, the club announced the addition of three limited partners and that Tom Pohlad would take over as both the club’s control person, from his uncle Jim, and as head of their day-today operations from his brother Joe.

Given two months to reflect on these changes, Falvey and Tom Pohlad determined separation was the prudent move.

‘Following a series of thoughtful conversations with Tom that began after the ownership transition and progressed over the past few weeks, we both agreed this was the right time for us to part ways,’ Falvey said in a statement released by the club. ‘Ownership transitions naturally create moments for reflection and honest dialogue about leadership, vision, and how an organization wants to move forward.

‘Over the past several weeks we had those conversations openly and constructively and ultimately reached a shared understanding that this was the right step both for the organization and for me personally.’

Said Tom Pohlad: ‘We reached a shared understanding that the needs of the organization are evolving and that a leadership transition is the best way to move forward. I want to thank Derek for everything he has contributed to this organization. When he joined the Twins nine years ago, it was, in many ways, a watershed moment for this franchise. His leadership was transformational. He helped modernize every aspect of our baseball operations and led with strong values, intention, and purpose.

‘Derek created a culture grounded in learning and in the belief that organizations grow when people grow. Under his leadership, the Twins captured three division titles and made four postseason appearances. We are grateful for his dedication, his integrity, and the impact he made here.’

“While we value our foundation, our commitment to building a championship caliber organization requires decisiveness and urgency. We will immediately begin a search for a President of Business Operations who, along with General Manager Jeremy Zoll, will report to me.”

The Twins collapsed at the end of the 2024 season and failed to defend their Central title, then lost 92 games in 2025. At the trade deadline, the Twins dumped nearly a roster’s worth of salary and talent: Carlos Correa, five relievers, outfielder Harrison Bader, first baseman Ty France and utilityman Willi Castro were all traded.