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 staff introduced his determination in a press launch on Friday morning, explaining, “After eight seasons of significant contributions and leadership, Thad Levine will depart the Minnesota Twins organization to pursue new challenges and opportunities, both inside and outside of baseball.”
The information of Levine’s departure comes just some days after the Twins confirmed chief baseball officer Derek Falvey and supervisor Rocco Baldelli would return in 2025. Levine has been working underneath Falvey for the previous eight years. The pair led the staff to 3 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 led to disappointment, nonetheless, 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. While accidents and underperformance performed a giant position within the staff’s downfall, so did a sluggish offseason and quiet commerce deadline, throughout which Falvey and Levine did little to enhance the membership. It’s troublesome to say how a lot of the blame lies with the entrance workplace versus possession, which pressured the staff to chop payroll. Regardless, it’s not exhausting 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 determination. Furthermore, one would suppose that if possession and government chairman Joe Pohlad had been displeased with the route of the staff, Falvey could be on the lookout for a brand new job as nicely. Both Falvey and Levine’s contacts had been believed to be expiring on the finish of the 2024 season.
Prior to becoming a member of the Twins, Levine spent a number of years as an assistant GM for the Rangers. More not too long ago, he has pursued prime decision-making jobs across the league; the Twins gave permission for him to interview with the Phillies in 2020 and the Red Sox in 2023. Other groups which have proven curiosity in Levine prior to now embody the Mets and Rockies. Interestingly, nonetheless, he finally took himself out of the operating for all these jobs.
If Levine needs a brand new job in baseball, it doesn’t appear as if he’d have any bother touchdown one. He will certainly be a candidate for any “chief decision-maker” openings across the league. It’s much less clear if he could be inquisitive about taking over one other job the place he would solely be second-in-command, corresponding to with the Giants. San Francisco is on the lookout for a GM to exchange Pete Putila and work underneath 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 atmosphere over his standing. Perhaps the Giants’ bigger payroll will persuade him to provide the Bay Area a strive.
