Thad Levine has stepped down from his place as senior vice chairman and normal supervisor of the Twins, a task he has held since November 2016. The workforce introduced his resolution in a press launch on Friday morning, explaining, “After eight seasons of great contributions and management, Thad Levine will depart the Minnesota Twins group to pursue new challenges and alternatives, each inside and out of doors of baseball.”
The information of Levine’s departure comes only a few days after the Twins confirmed chief baseball officer Derek Falvey and supervisor Rocco Baldelli would return in 2025. Levine has been working below Falvey for the previous eight years. The pair led the workforce to a few division titles and 4 playoff appearances between 2017-23, with the 2023 membership lastly ending the franchise’s 18-game postseason dropping streak.
The 2024 marketing campaign resulted in disappointment, nevertheless, with a 13-27 report over the ultimate 40 video games of the season pushing the Twins out of a playoff place and into fourth place within the AL Central. Whereas accidents and underperformance performed an enormous function within the workforce’s downfall, so did a sluggish offseason and quiet commerce deadline, throughout which Falvey and Levine did little to enhance the membership. It’s tough to say how a lot of the blame lies with the entrance workplace versus possession, which compelled the workforce to chop payroll. Regardless, it’s not onerous to see why Levine was prepared to hunt new alternatives elsewhere. It’s attainable the Twins didn’t need him again both, however the press launch presents it as Levine’s resolution. Moreover, one would assume that if possession and government chairman Joe Pohlad had been displeased with the route of the workforce, Falvey can be on the lookout for a brand new job as effectively. Each Falvey and Levine’s contacts had been believed to be expiring on the finish of the 2024 season.
Previous to becoming a member of the Twins, Levine spent a number of years as an assistant GM for the Rangers. Extra lately, he has pursued high decision-making jobs across the league; the Twins gave permission for him to interview with the Phillies in 2020 and the Purple Sox in 2023. Different groups which have proven curiosity in Levine up to now embody the Mets and Rockies. Curiously, nevertheless, he finally took himself out of the operating for all these jobs.
If Levine desires a brand new job in baseball, it doesn’t appear as if he’d have any hassle touchdown one. He will certainly be a candidate for any “chief decision-maker” openings across the league. It’s much less clear if he can be considering taking up one other job the place he would solely be second-in-command, corresponding to with the Giants. San Francisco is trying for a GM to exchange Pete Putila and work below new president of baseball operations Buster Posey. For what it’s value, the truth that Levine selected to stay beneath Falvey for therefore lengthy – regardless of different alternatives – suggests he prioritizes his work setting over his standing. Maybe the Giants’ bigger payroll will persuade him to provide the Bay Space a attempt.
