Although it has now been more than a week since the Minnesota Twins fired manager Rocco Baldelli, there has been very little movement on the next hire. Ownership and the front office are apparently keying in on candidates without previous experience, and a discount is definitely something they are looking for.
The Texas Rangers have already hired their next manager in hiring Skip Schumaker, and former Minnesota All-Star Kurt Suzuki has done an interview for the Giants. It was expected that Torii Hunter could be in play for the Twins, and now we have confirmation of that reality.
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Torii Hunter a candidate for Minnesota Twins manager
Without the Twins making real steps towards hiring their next manager we have been left to simply connect dots. The Star Tribune’s Bobby Nightengale listed Torii Hunter as a potential candidate from the outset, and The Athletic’s Brittany Ghiroli has since confirmed that to be the case.
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The favorite for the Los Angeles Angels’ job is special assistant Albert Pujols, as reported by The Athletic last week, though special assistants Torii Hunter and Kurt Suzuki are also in the mix. Suzuki also interviewed for the Giants job, while Hunter could be in the mix with the Minnesota Twins to replace Rocco Baldelli.
Brittany Ghiroli – The Athletic
Hunter seemed like a logical candidate for the Los Angeles Angels once that job opened up, but as soon as Albert Pujols was mentioned, a larger name was out there. Pujols returning to the dugout would be interesting. He is just 45 years old and retired following the 2022 season. Having spent 10 years in Los Angeles, there’s certainly equity established within the organization.
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Minnesota’s interest in Hunter makes sense. He’s a 50-year-old that played 12 years in the organization. While he doesn’t have a specific or direct tie to Derek Falvey, he certainly is familiar with the Pohlad family. As a first time manager, it would be logical to assume he’d align with the front office and work as a communicator within the clubhouse.
Hunter was directly responsible for strong clubhouse culture under Paul Molitor during the 2015 Minnesota Twins season, and that’s something he could bring back. He has also worked with Royce Lewis in the offseason, and helping him to return as a superstar would be more than welcomed by the front office.
Baldelli may not be out of a job long
It remains to be seen what Rocco Baldelli wants to do after his dismissal from the Minnesota Twins. He has a young family and spent seven years leading the Twins. His firing was also very clearly not a reflection of his performance, and he could be scooped up quickly.
Baldelli and Brandon Hyde, dismissed from Minnesota and the Baltimore Orioles, respectively, are two well-thought of candidates who have experience and could be willing to immediately dive back in. They have the benefit of selectivity given their contract status. Baldelli’s 2026 option with the Twins was picked up during the season.
Brittany Ghiroli – The Athletic
As Ghiroli mentions, the Twins already are on the hook for Baldelli’s 2026 salary. He doesn’t need a new gig in 2026 in order to make money. However, it’s possible that an opening makes sense and he quickly finds his way back into a clubhouse.
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Baldelli certainly had flaws with the Minnesota Twins, but he was hardly the problem. Handed a mixed bag from both ownership and the front office, he was largely making due with what was given to him.
It wouldn’t be a shock to see Baldelli join another organization in a capacity below the manager as well. Again, he won’t need the immediate payday, and it could be a springboard for his next leading role.
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