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Minnesota Twins Daily Clips

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

officially named Twins' chief officer. Star Tribune (Neal lll) p. 1  Twins announce Derek Falvey as Chief Baseball Officer. Pioneer Press p. 2  Falvey hiring inspires letter to Twins season-ticket holders. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 3  Falvey named Twins' chief baseball officer. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 4  Future of Twins' coaches still undecided. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 4  Twins announce Derek Falvey as new Chief Baseball Officer, front office leader. ESPN 1500 (Wetmore) p. 5  Reality Check: Twins Suffer Record Losses In 2016; Wasn’t Supposed To Stop That? WCCO 4 News (Kessler) p. 5  Five Things the New Twins GM Needs To Do. FanSided (Schlegel) p. 6  Twins name Indians' Falvey to lead baseball operations. p. 10  Twins, new executive Falvey ready to move forward. Associated Press p. 10  Twins pick new chief baseball officer to rebuild team that desperately needs it. CBS Sports (Axisa) p. 11  Twins Hire Derek Falvey To Oversee Baseball Operations. MLBTradeRumors (Adams) p. 12  New era set as Falvey takes over Twins baseball operations. MPR News p. 12

Derek Falvey officially named Twins' chief baseball officer

La Velle E. Neal lll | Star Tribune | October 3, 2016

For a Twins team that has had some of the worst pitching staffs in baseball in recent years, Derek Falvey could be in the right place at the right time.

Falvey on Monday was officially announced as the Twins’ new executive vice president and chief baseball officer after spending nine years in Cleveland. He will join the club at the conclusion of the Indians’ playoff and will become the sixth person to head the Twins’ baseball department.

While Falvey has earned praise for his communication skills and understanding of all facets of a baseball operations department, he is considered a whiz with pitching analytics. That might be selling Falvey — who pitched at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. — a little short. Those who know him believe that he blends the art and science of pitching more than just doing a deep-dive into numbers.

“We always looked at where someone could come in and make an impact and make a difference and Derek forged his path with the Indians by coming in and making a significant impact in our pitching identification, development and philosophy,” said Mark Shapiro, president and CEO of the Blue Jays, who ran the Indians when Falvey was hired as an intern in 2007. “He did a lot of research, spent a lot of time and made a big impact.”

Even as the Indians assistant GM this year, Falvey drew praise for his work with pitching Mickey Callaway. And pitching is a big reason why Cleveland won the AL Central division this season.

It could be a positive development for a Twins pitching staff that this season had the second-worst team ERA in the majors at 5.08. They were ranked 19th last season, and 29th, 29th, 28th and 29th the years before that. The change must begin on the mound, and the Twins believe they have found someone able to lead that charge.

The club pointed out Falvey’s pitching acumen in a letter to season ticket holders on Monday.

“Derek joins the Twins following a nine-year stint in Cleveland where he has positively impacted all aspects of their baseball operations, including the development of an organizationwide pitching philosophy,” the letter read.

Falvey replaces , who was executive VP, general . While the title is different, Falvey undoubtedly will be the No. 1. baseball executive at 1 Twins Way. He is expected to hire someone to work under him, possibly as the .

Rob Antony will remain the interim GM until Falvey begins his tenure with the Twins. Antony, who could still be the GM under Falvey, did meet with the coaching staff on Monday morning at Target Field and informed them that their futures will be determined after Falvey joins the organization.

Manager has been assured of returning in 2017. But the staff — bench coach Joe Vavra, first base coach Butch Davis, third base coach Gene Glynn, hitting coach , assistant hitting coach Rudy Hernandez, pitching coach Neil Allen and bullpen coach Eddie Guardado — all have contracts that expire on Oct. 30.

Outside leader rare

Falvey, in a statement, called the Twins “a proud, resilient franchise,” and said he was “eager to return championship-caliber baseball to the Twin Cities. ... It’s a tremendous honor to have the opportunity to lead the Twins baseball operation.”

From the time Falvey joined the Indians, he showed his ability to connect with people with wisdom that belies his age. Shapiro pointed out that he was 25 when he was a farm director, so he sees Falvey’s age as neither a hindrance nor an advantage.

“I think he’s got all the skills necessary to not just do the job but to excel at that job,” Shapiro said. “His ability to communicate, to go into some very tough cultures and tough environments and very quickly both win people over and do it in a way that was respectful. His ability to build respectful, trusting relationships across very diverse groups with a baseball operation was quickly evident.”

Falvey’s arrival is a quantum shift for an organization that has had a “next man up” mentality when it has come to appointing the head of their baseball department. The last time they hired from outside was a 32-year old Andy MacPhail in 1986, and the Twins won in 1987 and 1991.

Can the Twins be just as fortunate with Falvey? What’s known at this point is that owner acknowledged a “total system failure” as the team lost a franchise-record 103 games this season.

And they are rebooting with Falvey.

“We believe Derek represents the next generation of dynamic, game-changing MLB leaders,” Twins President Dave St. Peter said in a statement. “We expect Derek to create positive change directed at restoring our winning tradition.”

Twins announce Derek Falvey as Chief Baseball Officer

Pioneer Press | October 3, 2016

The Twins on Monday announced they have hired Derek Falvey as Executive Vice President, Chief Baseball Officer. He will join the Twins at the conclusion of the ’ season, the team said.

Falvey, 33, has spent the last nine seasons as a member of the Indians organization, most recently as assistant general manager. He spent the previous four seasons as director of baseball operations.

“I believe the addition of Derek Falvey to the will markedly enhance our organizational excellence and bring championship baseball back to Minnesota,” Twins Owner Jim Pohlad said in a statement.

The Indians begin a best-of-five first-round playoff series Thursday at home against the . The Twins said they will introduce Falvey during a news conference at Target Field when he starts his new job.

Until then, interim general manager Rob Antony will maintain his role. 2

Antony conducted a 15-minute meeting with the Twins’ seven-man big-league coaching staff on Monday morning. According to a person with direct knowledge, the coaches were told they are “in a holding pattern” and the front office will let them know “as soon as they can” of their status for 2017.

Falvey was in the Twin Cities over the weekend to finalize his deal with the Twins, the terms of which were not announced. However, based on what Antony told the coaches, it appears Falvey had already returned to Cleveland by Monday morning to continue postseason preparations.

According to the Twins, Falvey “will be responsible for establishing the vision and related strategies for the club’s baseball operation. Specifically, he will oversee all aspects of the department including: major league team, coaches, and support staff, contract negotiations, player development, scouting, research and development, medical and communications.”

Falvey will become the sixth head of the Twins baseball operations department, joining (1961-84), Howard Fox (1985-86), Andy MacPhail (1986-94), Bill Smith (2007-11) and Terry Ryan (1994-2007, 2011-16).

“It’s a tremendous honor to have the opportunity to lead the Twins baseball operation,” Falvey said in a statement. “This is a proud, resilient franchise, and I’m eager to return championship-caliber baseball to the Twin Cities. We will work diligently and collectively to select and develop top-performers, advance our processes, and nurture a progressive culture that will make fans across Twins Territory proud.”

Falvey hiring inspires letter to Twins season-ticket holders

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | October 3, 2016

Continuing their full-court press on a dwindling season-ticket base, the Twins fired off another letter to fans in the wake of Monday’s announcement of youthful Derek Falvey as their first-ever chief baseball officer.

Signed by team owner Jim Pohlad and team president Dave St. Peter, the letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Pioneer Press, begins with another mention of the “profound disappointment” in a Twins-record 103-loss season in 2016.

“We share your frustration with the on-field results,” the letter continues, “but remain steadfast in our belief that better days are indeed ahead.”

Falvey, 33, is credited in the letter with having “positively impacted all aspects” of baseball operations for the Cleveland Indians, where he spent his entire nine-year career in after starting as an intern in November 2007.

In particular, Pohlad and St. Peter write, Falvey had a hand in “the development of an organization-wide pitching philosophy.”

Fans are advised to “stay tuned for more information regarding future opportunities to hear from Derek directly as he works to shape our roster for 2017 and beyond.”

There is no mention of a full-time general manager to work under Falvey, or whether that hire will come from within the organization.

“Again, we are grateful for your support,” the letter concludes, “and look forward to seeing you back at Target Field in the spring. Win Twins!!!”

Average paid attendance at Target Field sagged to 24,246 this season as the Twins failed to reach 2 million in total home attendance for the first time in a dozen years. They ranked 23rd out of 30 major league teams in home attendance after seeing home crowds fall by 11.5 percent — a total decline of 256,142.

The Indians were 28th at 19,650, outdrawing only Oakland and Tampa Bay, despite winning the Central. They start the AL Division Series against the Red Sox Thursday in Cleveland.

The Twins’ season-ticket base has plummeted from 25,000 at the opening of Target Field in 2010 to 14,000 this season and a team-projected figure as low as 9,000 in 2017.

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Falvey named Twins' chief baseball officer

Rhett Bollinger | MLB.com | October 3, 2016

With the regular season coming to a close for the Twins on Sunday, they formally announced the hiring of Derek Falvey to be executive vice president and chief baseball officer on Monday.

Falvey, 33, had been Cleveland's assistant general manager for the past year and had been with that organization since 2007. Falvey helped build a roster that saw the Indians win the this year for the first time since '07.

"I believe the addition of Derek Falvey to the Minnesota Twins will markedly enhance our organizational excellence and bring championship baseball back to Minnesota," Twins owner Jim Pohlad said.

"It's a tremendous honor to have the opportunity to lead the Twins baseball operation," Falvey said. "This is a proud, resilient franchise, and I'm eager to return championship-caliber baseball to the Twin Cities. We will work diligently and collectively to select and develop top performers, advance our processes, and nurture a progressive culture that will make fans across Twins Territory proud."

Falvey is known for his work in player development and for helping the Indians build one of the best rotations in baseball. He oversaw Cleveland's pitching program, which is considered one of the more forward-thinking programs in the game, utilizing biomechanics and unorthodox methods such as having players throughout the Minor League system throw weighted balls.

Pitching remains Minnesota's biggest weakness, as the Twins finished with the second-worst ERA in the Majors and have had trouble developing in recent years, having to resort to signing expensive contracts to veteran free agents such as Ervin Santana, Phil Hughes and Ricky Nolasco with mixed results.

Before being promoted to assistant GM before the season, Falvey previously served as director of baseball operations for four years. As assistant GM, he assisted in all areas of baseball operations, including contracts and statistical work. He also was involved in the acquisition and development of amateur and professional players.

One of his main roles was overseeing the advanced scouting department and he worked closely with manager to disseminate relevant information to the Major League coaching staff on a daily basis. Francona spoke highly of Falvey when asked about him last week.

"He's kind of a rising star, in my opinion," Francona said. "I don't think you're going to talk to anybody around here who doesn't think he is. He does everything."

Falvey represents a departure from Minnesota's old-school ways, as he's well-versed in analytics -- speaking on a panel for player development at the 2013 Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) analytics conference -- and graduated from Trinity College with an economics degree in 2005. He also pitched at Trinity.

Falvey succeeds longtime Twins general manager Terry Ryan, who was dismissed in July. Ryan, 62, served as Minnesota's GM from 1994-2007 and again from 2011 until this year.

Falvey was hired over other known candidates, including interim GM Rob Antony, the Cubs' Jason McLeod, the Royals' J.J. Picollo and the Rays' Chaim Bloom. The Twins utilized the search firm Korn Ferry in helping identify and interview candidates. Pohlad and Twins president Dave St. Peter conducted the interviews.

Future of Twins' coaches still undecided

Rhett Bollinger | MLB.com | October 3, 2016

Twins interim general manager Rob Antony met with all seven Major League-level coaches Monday morning to inform them a decision on their future will be made once Derek Falvey officially takes over as chief baseball officer.

Twins manager Paul Molitor has been publicly assured by ownership that he'll be back next year, but the fate of his coaching staff has yet to be decided heading into 2017. Falvey, the Indians' former assistant GM, is expected to be formally introduced by Minnesota once Cleveland's postseason run concludes.

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Hitting coach Tom Brunansky, assistant coach Rudy Hernandez, pitching coach Neil Allen, first-base coach Butch Davis, third-base coach Gene Glynn, bench coach Joe Vavra and bullpen coach Eddie Guardado all met with Antony in separate meetings.

Molitor said Sunday he's hopeful he'll be able to keep his coaching staff together, but he acknowledged it's ultimately not his decision. "I would say that I don't believe it's totally up to me," Molitor said. "I would have input, I hope. I'm going to try. I know there are people who might have opinions, and they might concur or differ with me, but we're going to have to talk through these things."

Twins announce Derek Falvey as new Chief Baseball Officer, front office leader

Derek Wetmore | 1500 ESPN | October 3, 2016

The Twins on Monday made it official.

They’ve named Derek Falvey their next Chief Baseball Officer. He’s also an executive vice president, a title his predecessor, Terry Ryan, held, although Ryan was referred to as the General Manager.

Falvey is expected to be a rung above that, where he’ll be in charge of an entire front office, which would also include a GM. Falvey had previously been the director of baseball operations, and more recently, the assistant general manager for the Indians. He’s 33 years old.

Here’s what the Twins say Falvey will do in the job:

As the newly appointed EVP/Chief Baseball Officer for the Twins, Falvey will be responsible for establishing the vision and related strategies for the club’s baseball operation. Specifically, he will oversee all aspects of the department including: major league team, coaches, and support staff, contract negotiations, player development, scouting, research and development, medical and communications.

“It’s a tremendous honor to have the opportunity to lead the Twins baseball operation. This is a proud, resilient franchise, and I’m eager to return championship-caliber baseball to the Twin Cities,” Falvey said in the release. “We will work diligently and collectively to select and develop top-performers, advance our processes, and nurture a progressive culture that will make fans across Twins Territory proud.”

Twins President Dave St. Peter said that this hire represents the “next generation of dynamic, game-changing MLB leaders.”

“We expect Derek to create positive change directed at restoring our winning tradition,” St. Peter said.

Reality Check: Twins Suffer Record Losses In 2016; Wasn’t Target Field Supposed To Stop That?

Pat Kessler | WCCO 4 News | October 3, 2016

In a game where numbers rule, the 2016 Minnesota Twins set a record they never wanted.

The worst record in baseball and the most losses in Twins franchise history: 103.

Even though the Twins’ owners promised competitive teams if taxpayers built them a new stadium.

The Minnesota Legislature approved the publicly funded ballpark in May 2006 in a final vote of 34-32.

“’s number! How appropriate is that?” said a weary but ebullient Jerry Bell, a top Twins official.

Taxpayers picked up $392 million of the $522 million stadium tab.

But if the Twins said the new stadium revenues allowed them to compete on the field, that’s not what happened.

Since Target Field opened in 2010, the Twins have recorded a record of 501 wins and 633 losses.

Attendance plummeted from 3.2 million in 2010 to 1.9 million in 2016.

And the team value soared: from $356 million in 2006 to $910 million dollars today.

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A spokesman for the Twins told Reality Check:

“We said the ballpark would be an important piece to our overall product. No doubt the on-field play has been disappointing and we are taking appropriate measures to address the problems,” said Dustin Morse, senior director of communications for the Twins. “We never stated a new ballpark would guarantee a competitive team, we did say the new ballpark would provide revenues aimed at helping the Twins compete.”

In fact, the Twins said it numerous times in the decade leading up to the 2006 stadium vote, including on their official website:

“In 2002, 2003 and 2004, the Twins finished in first place in the American League’s Central Division; nevertheless, the revenues they were able to generate in the Metrodome ranked only 25th out of 30 major league franchises. This is due to the configuration of the Metrodome as a football facility, as well as the lease limitations on major revenue streams such as advertising, suites and parking. This will result in the team’s inability to field a competitive team and offer fans an exciting experience over the long-term.”

Target Field did bring higher revenues: Annual revenues in 2010 were $158 million, and $240 million in 2015.

But Twins spokesman Morse admits: “It’s clear we have not made enough good baseball decisions to ensure competitiveness at the Major League level.”

Five Things the New Minnesota Twins GM Needs To Do

Martin Schlegel | FanSided | October 4, 2016

Once hired, there are five things the new Minnesota Twins general manager must take care of.

The Minnesota Twins officially announced the hiring of Derek Falvey on Monday. He will become the Executive Vice President and Chief Baseball Officer.

Falvey, 33, will be one of the youngest executives in baseball. He is working for the Cleveland Indians as the assistant general manager.

After the Indians are eliminated from the playoffs, he will start working for the Twins.

Falvey enters a franchise in need of a new perspective. The Twins have gone through too many seasons will dismal baseball. Maybe hiring someone on the younger side is the answer.

Many failures and successes are revealed after going through the past 15 or so years of Twins baseball.

Primarily based on the failures, there are five improvements Falvey can make to the Twins organization. Falvey can reverse pecific repetitive actions of the past Twins front office.

It all starts with Falvey. He needs to make the necessary changes to correct certain areas where the Twins have failed in the past.

While he won’t be able to address all of them at once, completing each of the following goals will eventually help the Twins return to its winning ways and beyond.

The new general manager needs to treat the Minnesota Twins as an American League team.

Newsflash, the Twins are still in the American League. At least it’s news to the front office as they continue to build the Twins as a team.

Management continues to use the as a “half off day” for players. It’s time to use the DH properly. It is designed for a great hitter who is insufficient or struggles in the field.

Had Byung Ho Park consistently overall, he would be a great DH.

Park isn’t the first player to fail as the Twins DH.

In 2008, there was Craig Monroe. He was capable of playing the outfield but was aging and certainly at the end of his career. In 117 at-bats as a 6

DH, Monroe hit four home runs, drove in 19 RBI and slashed a lowly .214/.292/.376.

It gets worse.

In 2006, Rondell White received the most at-bats as a DH (191). He slashed a miserable .199/.220/.283 while hitting two home runs and driving in 18 RBI.

One would think at age 34, White shouldn’t reprise his role next season.

Wrong. Instead of releasing him from the two-year $5 million contract he signed before 2006, he returned as the DH and hit just as bad in 2007.

Other players have underachieved as the DH. Players such as Jose Offerman, , , Matt LeCroy in 2004 (worst year statistically as a DH), Jason Tyner, and Mike Redmond. They all had no business serving as the DH.

The last time the Twins had a “real” DH, was Ryan Doumit. Before him came Jim Thome.

A longtime Twins killer, Thome quickly became a fan-favorite for his monster home runs but will forever be remembered for his walk-off against the White Sox. It was a move that worked out well for the Twins at the time.

Doumit had his moments with the Twins in 2012, his best year with the team.

Doumit and Thome clearly fit the mold of a typical DH.

If Park adjusts to major league pitching, he could be the future DH. However, Miguel Sano currently suits the role the best. He has struggled to stay healthy in the outfield, and has had multiple fielding issues at third base.

It’ll be up to the new general manager to fill the DH role more effectively. The National League style of Twins baseball needs to end.

The Minnesota Twins new general manager needs to show patience as the prospects develop.

The Twins have had bad luck recently with its top prospects not being major league ready.

It could be due to impatience from the front office. Another possibility is the front office is overrating the prospect’s numbers in the minors. It could even be the front office feeling pressure from the fans.

Regardless of what actually is the case, it’s rather pointless to speculate why certain prospects are skipping -A.

What needs to change, however, is the analysis of the organization’s prospects.

The new general manager needs to remain unbiased and realize when a talented, young player still needs seasoning in minors.

The most recent example of a player brought up too soon is Byron Buxton.

Several Twins observers quickly labeled Buxton a bust, at 22-years-old.

As pointed out by a fellow baseball expert, in an alternate universe Buxton was drafted in the first round of this year’s June amateur draft.

Thankfully, the Twins have a long history of showing patience in its top prospects. Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune compares Buxton’s climb to the majors to past Twins stars. Names like , , and more.

Baseball observers pay attention to the minor leagues compared to 15 years ago. Twins fans would react no differently if Hunter was the present day Buxton.

Patience from the front office will be key in developing its players, especially during a time when fans are quick to judge.

Every trade the new Minnesota Twins general manager executes needs to bring more value, not less.

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Trading players during a rebuild phase is equally important as a contending team trading at the deadline. Every trade needs to make the team better.

Seems elementary, yet the Twins have executed questionable trades which made the team lousier.

The Johan Santana trade is right up there with the worst in team history. The Twins turned Santana into Carlos Gomez, plus others. Gomez was eventually traded for J.J. Hardy, who the Twins exchanged for Jim Hoey.

The Twins fumbled on a few other trades too when the team traded Denard Span and Ben Revere for young pitchers.

Trevor May remains the only player on the roster from any of those deals.

Despite the bad trades, the Twins have made some savvy deals that helped the team with multiple division titles.

The trade of A.J. Pierzynski to the Giants for , , and set the Twins up with an all-star closer.

The best trade the Twins made recently came last winter when the team traded for Daniel Palka.

Palka, 24, hit 34 home runs and drove in 90 RBI between -A and triple-A this season. Meanwhile Herrmann had a career year with the that he likely won’t repeat.

Overall, trades aren’t all that easy to make. In most cases, like the ones previously mentioned, it’s easy to judge them in hindsight than it is when the trades occur.

Falvey and his crew need to make trades that improve the team, not downgrade it.

With a new Minnesota Twins general manager comes a new philosophy on signing free agents.

While Terry Ryan did make some good signings, he also made some awful ones too. The new general manager could learn from Ryan’s mistakes by never repeating them again.

It’s time to layout the new free agent model for the Twins. Stop signing “second chance starting pitchers.”

Most of the terrible signings came within the last few seasons during Twins are in a rebuilding phase.

While it isn’t fair to expect Cy Young performances out of every , it is fair to judge them based on the team’s view of them.

In most cases, the front office thought they were getting potentially a No. 1 or 2 starter. At the very least the team was adding a solid No. 3 man in the rotation.

None of the pitchers lived up to the potential of a No. 1 or 2. The only exception being Phil Hughes in 2014 when he finished seventh in the AL voting.

Three pitchers posted a winning record. Additionally, only one pitcher registered more than 180 pitched.

When the stats are this bad, the fans notice. Certainly the general manager ought to notice.

What is troubling is Ryan’s lack of acceptance with reality. In other words, Ryan previously displayed denial with the facts.

In 2012, after signing Kevin Correia, Ryan said in a CBSSports.com article,

He knows what he’s doing on the mound. He’s a guy we’ve seen quite a bit. When you start cracking his numbers, they’re very respectable. Correia pitched slightly above league average in 2013 but was mediocre in 2014. He owned a 4.94 ERA in 2014 and won just five games in 23 starts.

In 2015, Ryan spoke highly of bad pitching again. When asked about Mike Pelfrey‘s slow start Ryan said, 8

He can do better. We expect him to do better. I wasn’t worried about his pace. I was worried about him putting away hitters. Pelfrey did rebound from horrible to barely league average. He started 30 games, winning six of them. He had a 4.26 ERA with a .304 batting average against. Pelfrey’s numbers were the best in his Twins career.

Moving on, last winter Ryan sounded like a man trying to convince himself Ricky Nolasco is a good pitcher.

He told a fan it’s unfair to think Nolasco can’t pitch because of his past injuries.

Before the Twins traded him, Nolasco was having the best season statistically with the Twins. He won four games in 21 starts, the lowest win total in his Twins career. On the flip side, he recorded his lowest ERA with the Twins (5.13).

So much for injuries being the problem.

Don’t even bother wondering why the Twins gave Livan Hernandez 23 starts in 2008, it might hurt to think about.

Clearly, this way of thinking needs to end. No more signing league average starting pitchers and propping them up like born again aces.

The new general manager needs to stop going after the cheaper options in free agency as well.

It’s not easy with the increasing asking price for good pitchers, but at the very least, the new general manager needs to admit when the signings aren’t going to work out.

The new general manager could earn extra praise if the Minnesota Twins defeat the .

It would much appreciated if the new general manager could help the Twins beat the New York Yankees.

Obviously any general manager can’t directly affect their team’s success against any particular team. Unless of course you ask a Boston Red Sox fan after the 2004 playoffs when the Sox broke the team’s long-standing curse against the Yankees.

The goal to beat the Yankees is more of personal goal than any of the other goals.

Growing up with the Twins in the early 2000s, the arch-enemy was always the Yankees. It was extremely deflating to see Yankees in the first round of the playoffs seemingly every year thereafter.

To some, this applies to many other teams the Twins historically don’t play well.

Regardless, there’s no denying Twins struggled against the Yankees.

Terry Ryan’s first stint as the general manager started in 1994 and ended in 2007.

From the end of the 1994 season to the end of 2007 the Twins owned a 38-67 regular season record against the Yankees. The .362 win-loss percentage is the worst of any team against the Twins.

When Ryan came back in 2011, the record against the Yankees didn’t get any better. The Twins 13-29 regular season record, or .310 win-loss percentage, is among the worst win-loss percentages against any team.

In total, the Twins are 51-96 against the Yankees with Ryan as the general manager. The Twins are 2-12 against the Yankees in the playoffs with Ryan as general manager. Furthermore, the only season series the Twins won against the Yankees was in 2001.

It’s not the most urgent task the general manager should focus, but it would be nice to see the Twins beat the Yankees. Especially, if it came in the playoffs.

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Twins name Indians' Falvey to lead baseball operations

Associated Press | October 3, 2016

The Minnesota Twins have named Cleveland Indians executive Derek Falvey to take over baseball operation, one day after wrapping up their worst season ever.

The 33-year-old assistant general manager has been with Cleveland for nine seasons. He will join the Twins after the playoff-bound Indians wrap up their season.

Falvey replaces Terry Ryan, who was fired in the middle of a season in which the Twins plummeted to 103 losses, the team's worst record since they started playing in Minnesota in 1961. Falvey will be executive vice president/chief baseball officer.

Falvey joined the Indians in 2007 as an intern. He worked in the scouting department his first three years before becoming assistant director of baseball operations in 2011.

Twins, new executive Falvey ready to move forward

Associated Press | October 3, 2016

The day after their worst season in club history, the Minnesota Twins took a symbolic step forward.

The Twins formally announced 33-year-old Cleveland Indians assistant general manager Derek Falvey would be their new executive vice president and chief baseball officer, charged with turning around a team that lost by far the most games (103) in the major leagues.

"I believe the addition of Derek Falvey to the Minnesota Twins will markedly enhance our organizational excellence and bring championship baseball back to Minnesota," Twins owner and chief executive officer Jim Pohlad said on Monday, in a prepared-yet-ambitious statement distributed by the Twins.

Championship baseball has been missing from Minnesota since 1991, and the last time the Twins won a postseason game was 2004. They've averaged 94 losses per year since 2011, and this past season was the tipping point for widespread change. Executive vice president and general manager Terry Ryan was fired on July 18, ending his leadership of the baseball operations at 17 seasons.

Falvey reflects an industry-wide trend toward young, analytical, innovative executives, with 's success after being hired as a 28- year-old in 2002 by the Boston Red Sox as the prime example. Epstein is now leading a revamp of the , who just piled up the most wins they've had since 1910.

"It's a tremendous honor to have the opportunity to lead the Twins baseball operation," Falvey said in a statement in which he vowed to advance the organization's processes and "nurture a progressive culture."

Falvey joined Cleveland's baseball operations in 2007 and rose through the department to third-in-command this season. The former pitcher for NCAA Division III Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, earned a degree in economics in 2005. He will join the Twins after the playoff-bound Indians wrap up their season.

"He's kind of a rising star, in my opinion," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said recently. "I don't think you're going to talk to anybody around here who doesn't think he is."

The Twins have gone young before. Andy MacPhail was hired to lead the baseball operations at age 32 in 1985, and he had a big hand in building the 1987 and 1991 world champions. The , using the same search firm as the Twins, hired general manager a year ago at age 30.

The top priority for Falvey must be pitching. The Twins had a 5.08 team ERA, more than a half-run higher than the next-worst team in the American League. Ervin Santana was the only reliable starter. The Twins had a middle-of-the-pack offense, but they lacked consistency with impotent stretches in April and September. They used a franchise-record 49 players.

"It's not just one arm. It's not just one bat. It's multiples of each, and we have to get better in a lot of areas," Brian Dozier said.

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Here are the top takeaways from the 2016 season:

FIELDING FLUBS

Overshadowed by the futility of the pitching was the continued deterioration of the defense behind it. Once an organization lauded for sound fundamentals, the Twins were charged with a league-most 126 errors, 29 more than the next-closest teams. Miguel Sano had 18 in 80 games in the field.

BULL DOZIER

Dozier, making a mere $3 million this season, became the only Twins player beside Hall of Fame member and the first since 1970 to reach the 40-home run mark. He went deep 42 times and batted a career-best .268 with 99 RBIs, despite a 2-for-34 slide over his last eight games and an awful start that had him hitting .202 at the end of May. Dozier also stole 18 bases in 20 tries.

HOMER HAPPY

The Twins at least were a more powerful team at the plate this year, hitting 200 home runs for their highest total since 1964 and their third- most in club history. The Twins had 11 players reach the 10-homer mark, matching a major league record shared with Detroit (2004) and Houston (2015).

GROWING PAINS

Sano started the season awkwardly in right field, missed time to hamstring and back injuries and tainted his 25 home runs with a team-high 178 in 437 at-bats. Byron Buxton struggled badly at the plate until finally finding a groove in September. Right-hander Jose Berrios posted an 8.02 ERA in 14 starts. This trio is the core of the young talent the Twins and their fans had been eagerly awaiting.

OFFSEASON SHUFFLE

Catcher Kurt Suzuki is the only free agent, but roster changes are certain. Dozier could be a trade candidate, a quick way to upgrade the starting pitching. Third baseman Trevor Plouffe, beset by midsection injuries, has had his job taken by Sano.

Twins pick new chief baseball officer to rebuild team that desperately needs it

Mike Axisa | CBS Sports | October 3, 2016

More than two months after firing longtime GM Terry Ryan, the Minnesota Twins have announced his replacement.

Indians assistant general manager Derek Falvey has been named Minnesota's new chief baseball officer, the Twins announced Monday morning. He will begin his duties as soon as the AL Central winning Indians' season ends.

"I believe the addition of Derek Falvey to the Minnesota Twins will markedly enhance our organizational excellence and bring championship baseball back to Minnesota," said Twins owner Jim Pohlad in a statement.

Falvey, who is only 33, has spent the last several years working in a variety of roles with the Indians. He was the club's director of baseball operations for five years before taking over as assistant general manager in 2011. Falvey originally joined the Indians as an intern and worked his way up the ladder.

"It's a tremendous honor to have the opportunity to lead the Twins baseball operation. This is a proud, resilient franchise, and I'm eager to return championship-caliber baseball to the Twin Cities," said Falvey in a statement. "We will work diligently and collectively to select and develop top-performers, advance our processes, and nurture a progressive culture that will make fans across Twins Territory proud."

Falvey is highly regarded within baseball and has a strong background in analytics, which is an area the Twins have been sorely lacking in recent years. They're behind the times, simply put. Building a modern analytics department figures to be one of Falvey's immediate priorities.

That said, the best teams blend stats and scouting, and Falvey has a scouting background after working in the Indians' player development system. He pitched at Division III Trinity College before getting his economics degree and beginning his front office career.

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"Throughout his baseball journey, Derek has earned a reputation as a talented executive thanks to innovation, collaboration and a relentless pursuit of individual and organizational improvement," said team president Dave St. Peter in a statement. "We believe Derek represents the next generation of dynamic, game-changing MLB leaders. We expect Derek to create positive change directed at restoring our winning tradition."

At 33, Falvey is the second youngest baseball operations head in MLB. Brewers GM David Stearns, who was hired last year, is 30. Rangers GM became the youngest GM in history when he was hired at age 28 in 2005.

Falvey will run Minnesota's baseball operations department and is expected to hire a GM to work underneath him. This front office structure has become fairly popular around the league in recent years.

The Twins went 59-103 in 2016, which was the worst record in baseball. No other team lost more than 94 games. They've lost at least 92 games five times in the last six years. Minnesota holds the first overall pick in the 2017 draft.

Twins Hire Derek Falvey To Oversee Baseball Operations

Steve Adams | MLBTradeRumors | October 3, 2016

The Twins have officially announced that they’ve hired Indians assistant GM Derek Falvey as their executive vice president and chief baseball officer. Falvey will join the Twins once the Indians’ season is over. Rob Antony will continue as interim GM until then. Twins Daily’s Jeremy Nygaard and ESPN’s Keith Law were among the first to tweet that the Twins would hire Falvey, with Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan tweeting that Falvey had emerged as a favorite.

“I believe the addition of Derek Falvey to the Minnesota Twins will markedly enhance our organizational excellence and bring championship baseball back to Minnesota,” says Twins Owner Jim Pohlad.

“It’s a tremendous honor to have the opportunity to lead the Twins baseball operation. This is a proud, resilient franchise, and I’m eager to return championship-caliber baseball to the Twin Cities,” says Falvey. “We will work diligently and collectively to select and develop top- performers, advance our processes, and nurture a progressive culture that will make fans across Twins Territory proud.”

The Twins had been linked to a number of young executives as they look for a replacement for recently dismissed GM Terry Ryan. Among the other names known to have been in the mix were Rays vice president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, Royals assistant GM J.J. Picollo and Cubs senior vice president of player development Jason McLeod.

The 33-year-old Falvey will become one of baseball’s youngest executives and represents a significant departure from the status quo for Minnesota. His rise to the position of president is a surprise, to say the least, as he’s spent less than one full season as an assistant GM. Falvey was promoted to that post last October in conjunction with the promotions of to president of baseball operations and Mike Chernoff to general manager. Prior to that, he spent four seasons as Cleveland’s director of baseball operations. The Boston native holds a degree in economics from Trinity College, where he also played baseball, and has contributed to the Cleveland front office in many capacities. In addition to his longstanding role in the team’s player development process, Falvey has overseen the advanced scouting department and worked with Antonetti and Chernoff on “financial, statistical and contractual dealings,” per the Indians’ media guide.

Falvey figures to be the first of multiple new hires for the Twins, who reportedly will allow their new president to hire a general manager to work underneath him as well. Beyond that, changes atop a baseball operations hierarchy often lead to personnel shuffling further down the pecking order, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise if further new faces join the Minnesota front office. One name that won’t be changing, however, is manager Paul Molitor, whom owner Jim Pohlad has already stated will remain his manager in 2017.

New era set as Falvey takes over Twins baseball operations

MPR News | October 3, 2016

After another dismal baseball season, the Minnesota Twins hope Derek Falvey will put the team back on the path to success. Twins officials formally announced his hiring Monday as head of baseball operations.

Falvey, 33, replaces longtime general manager Terry Ryan, who was fired in July as the team spiraled downward toward the worst record in Major League Baseball.

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The Twins finished with 103 losses and only 59 wins, the worst for the franchise since coming to Minnesota. That followed four out of five seasons where the Twins lost 90-plus games.

"I believe the addition of Derek Falvey to the Minnesota Twins will markedly enhance our organizational excellence and bring championship baseball back to Minnesota," Twins owner Jim Pohlad said in a statement.

Falvey's title will be executive vice president and chief baseball officer. His new role with the Twins will be effective at the conclusion of the Cleveland Indians season. Rob Antony will maintain his role as the Twins interim general manager until Falvey joins the club.

Falvey, 33, has worked for the Indians the past nine seasons, most recently as assistant general manager. He is a graduate of Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., where he played baseball and earned a degree in economics in 2005.

His job with the Twins will be a demanding one in a franchise struggling to regain its footing.

According to the team, "he will oversee all aspects of the department including: major league team, coaches, and support staff, contract negotiations, player development, scouting, research and development, medical and communications.

The Twins have a lot of young talent, including Byron Buxton and Max Kepler and Miguel Sano. Pitching, however, remains a huge need. Many of the team's efforts to groom young pitchers have fallen short the past few years. Several free-agent pitchers failed to meet their promise.

Despite all the unknowns, Pohlad has said the team will manager Paul Molitor for next season.

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