Twins GM Thad Levine separates after 8 years

MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Twins and general manager Thad Levine announced their separation on Friday.

With his contract expiring, Levine, the Twins' GM for the past eight years, wants to pursue the kind of bigger major league opportunities he previously turned down. Levine's departure came days after Twins owner Joe Pohlad confirmed that Derek Falvey would remain in his role as the team's top baseball decision-maker.

“Thad’s impact on the Minnesota Twins cannot be overstated,” Falvey said in a press release. “He was a true partner and leader who always strived to advance the organization and care for those around him. Thad has helped create a strong team culture focused on excellence and collaboration that will continue into the future. While we will miss his leadership, we are equally excited about the next chapter of his journey and wish him nothing but success in his future endeavors. I would like to personally thank him for everything he has done to help us get better every day.”

Levine and Falvey were hired as GMs in November 2016 and signed five-year extensions with the 2019 team following a 101-win season, the team's second postseason appearance in three years under the front office duo's leadership Twins.

A few months after Falvey was hired in August 2016, the Twins brought in Levine to oversee the club's day-to-day operations, allowing Falvey to better assess the entire organization in its first year of existence. The move allowed Falvey and Levine to share the workload of communicating with the 29 other baseball teams. Levine also handled the team's relationships with player agents.

Falvey and Levine were introduced to each other at the 2014 GM meetings, when Cleveland's front office met with the Texas Rangers group for a nightcap, with Levine's storytelling captivating the group. The familiarity of the two front offices and Levine's stellar reputation in the industry stood him out during an interview process that Falvey conducted largely alone.

The pair became so inseparable in the early days that Twins staff and fans alike gave them the nickname “Falvine.” Although he took a less public role in recent seasons as the Twins involved more decision-makers in the player acquisition process, Levine was the center of attention in the early going.

Levine was routinely mentioned as a possible candidate for opening GM and president of baseball operations and skipped potential interviews with countless clubs. Levine made it clear that he was happy working for the Twins and that his family loved calling the Twins Cities home.

But as the front office grew and more of the organization's processes became more fleshed out, Levine began to think about whether the time was right for a larger role. While 20 years ago a team's GM was the ultimate decision maker, that is no longer the case.

In recent years, Levine has increasingly sought other opportunities. He applied for the position of president of baseball operations for the Philadelphia Phillies in December 2020, which went to Dave Dombrowski. Last year, Levine was a finalist for Boston's chief baseball officer position, which went to Craig Breslow.

“I am grateful to the Pohlad family, Derek Falvey and Dave St. Peter, for providing me with such a comprehensive leadership opportunity over the last eight years of my career,” said Levine. “Now is the right time for me to take on my next rewarding professional challenge. I will forever cherish the friendships I have made in the Minnesota Twins organization and throughout Twins territory.”

(Photo by Thad Levine in 2021: David Berding / Getty Images)