Fired MN Twins Manager Lands Championship Front Office Job

When the Minnesota Twins fired Rocco Baldelli — whose tenure as manager lasted for seven seasons between 2017 and 2025 — he became the official scapegoat for last year’s 92-loss team.

In reality, however, his fall guy duties were much larger than that. He was taking the blame for organization incompetence that originates from the very top. Rocco Baldelli certainly deserves his fair share of blame, but he was far from the Minnesota Twins’ biggest problem in 2025.

There has been some interest around the league in Baldelli, since he was let go. But Rocco didn’t seem like he was in any big hurry to work again. If that was once the case, it’s not anymore.

The Winter Meetings are taking place down in Orlando, a yearly event that always spurs moves throughout the league. But on Tuesday, the Star Tribune’s Bobby Nightengale reported some rather surprising news.

Los Angeles Dodgers hire Rocco Baldelli

Not only did Rocco Baldelli find a new job, but he found one in LA with the World Series Champion Dodgers. That part isn’t all that shocking. What was more eye-opening was the type of job he is taking. Rocco is NOT joining the Dodgers’ coaching staff. Instead, he is being hired into the front office.

Former Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, two months after his exit from the organization, is joining the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Baldelli is taking a front office role with the Dodgers, two people familiar with the hire told the Minnesota Star Tribune. Baldelli has a long history with Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, from their time together with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Star Tribune

Of course, a front office role can often be a springboard to another shot at managing. A local example would be the Minnesota Twins considered former MLB executive turned manager, Scott Servais, for their open skipper position, this offseason, before hiring Derek Shelton.

Imagine going from the Minnesota Twins to LA Dodgers…

Talk about a culture shock, going from the Minnesota Twins organization to that of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Andrew Friedman is one of the most respected executives in baseball, and the ownership group spends like winning is more important than breathing.

Let’s just say a change in thinking like that could take the former manager a little while to get used to, compared to working under Derek Falvey and the Pohlads. Speaking of spending on talent, the Dodgers just signed closer Edwin Diaz today.

Edwin Diaz and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a deal, league source tells The Athletic.

— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) December 9, 2025

Maybe the MN Twins are seriously considering themselves offseason “buyers” on the MLB markets once again… but it’s probably safe to assume they were NOT in on Diaz. Of note, the Los Angeles Dodgers play at Target Field against the Minnesota Twins this summer from June 22-24.