Twins fire manager Rocco Baldelli after 70-92 season - ESPN

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins fired manager Rocco Baldelli on Monday, ending his seven-year tenure that included three American League Central titles after a second straight disappointing season.

«This is a difficult day because of what Rocco represents to so many people here,» Twins president Derek Falvey said in a statement. «He led with honesty, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to our players and staff. He gave himself fully to this role and I have tremendous respect and gratitude for the way he carried himself and the way he showed up every single day.»

The Twins, who were expected to contend for the American League Central title this season, faltered in June and became sellers at the trade deadline — sending away 10 players while cutting $26 million from the payroll — and went 23-43 after the All-Star break to finish fourth in the division with a 70-92 mark.

The Twins went 19-35 after the trade deadline passed, with only the Colorado Rockies faring worse over the final two months.

The Twins finished with the fourth-worst record in the major leagues and their worst mark since 2016, when they went 59-103 after firing longtime general manager Terry Ryan at midseason. Falvey was hired to replace Ryan after that.

The 44-year-old Baldelli, who won the 2019 AL Manager of the Year award as a rookie, has led the Twins to three division titles. In 2023, Minnesota ended a record 18-game postseason losing streak and won its first playoff series 2002.

Baldelli has an overall record of 527-505 in seven seasons, and he's the third-winningest manager in Twins history behind Tom Kelly and Ron Gardenhire.

Attendance has swooned at Target Field, with the Twins finishing with an 81-home game total of a little more than 1.7