Minnesota Twins Reportedly Plan to Promote Derek Falvey

By Eric Strack |

Updated: Oct 9, 2024

Derek Falvey, Pablo Lopez - Minnesota Twins — Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Last week, the Minnesota Twins ~~fired~~ let general manager Thad Levine walk away after his contract expired. They won’t tell you this, but he (pretty much) did, in a 1v1 interview he did with Darren “Doogie” Wolfson (KSTP), in which Doogie says that, had the Twins made the playoffs, “there was a scenario where [Levine] isn’t necessarily a former Twins employee”.

Thad Levine played fall guy for Minnesota Twins

If Levine was ready to walk away, why would missing the playoffs matter toward his 2025 employment? It wouldn’t. But, I digress. It doesn’t matter. Thad Levine had to go (apparently). Somebody did, after such a disastrous collapse, right…? That must have been the Pohlads’ thinking.

And if ownership was looking for a fall guy, President Dave St. Peter was never going to be it. He’s been with the organization since 1990. If fumbling the TV situation as poorly as he and the Twins have isn’t going to get him fired, then nothing will.

Some thought president of baseball operations Derek Falvey and/or manager Rocco Baldelli might be in trouble, but they never were either. According to what Doogie reported on SKOR North Tuesday, St. Peter is somewhat infatuated with Falvey, just like Falvey is Baldelli.

Thus, a three-headed leadership group of decision-makers that are going to be harder to shake than one 2nd half collapse, no matter how epic. So, with Levine’s contract expiring anyway, he was the fall guy.

PoBO Derek Falvey expected to get… a promotion?

But guess what? Falvey’s contract is up, too. Instead of making him walk the plank, though, the Pohlads and St. Peter have different plans. An extension, but not just an extension, says Wolfson. The President of Baseball Operations is somehow in line for a promotion, including a new title and higher pay.

“If you want to call this Reckless speculation… I mean, the Pohlads think the world of Falvey. So, you know, Falvey’s contract is up too. I think it’s a nice contract extension for Derek Falvey. I think it’s perhaps a new title. I don’t know how you up the title of ‘President of Operations’. Does he still have the title of Chief baseball officer? He’s had multiple titles over the last few years.

But I think the Derek Falvey responsibility pie is about to grow. However it grows, because he already has enough responsibility. But just knowing what the Pohlads and Dave St. Peter think of Derek Falvey, he’s not going anywhere. So call it Reckless speculation, if you want, but I’m thinking this upcoming Twins news is some sort of new title and more responsibility for Derek Falvey.”
Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd Show (SKOR North)

Derek Falvey’s new rank and title remain unclear, but some sort of elevation up a ladder he’s already near the top seems to be on the way, nonetheless. What a classic big business move. Fire the 5th guy down the ladder, and give his pay to someone higher up the food chain, because they probably had nothing to do with what made the other guy ~~get fired~~ walk away.

Falvey promotion didn’t happen Tuesday, but it seems right around the corner

This episode released prior to the big news dropping that the Minnesota Twins are moving on from Bally Sports North. That’s what got this conversations started. There was scuttlebutt amongst local insiders that big news was coming.

A couple of hours later, the Bally Sports news broke. Nonetheless, it appears a promotion for Derek Falvey is coming, at some point. Whenever they finish up this new contract extension. The one where he consumes Thad Levine’s salary. So look out for that.