Minnesota Twins hire Derek Shelton as new manager

The Minnesota Twins are reportedly moving to appoint Derek Shelton as its new manager following the firing of Rocco Baldelli.

Multiple reports including from MLB insider Jon Heyman state that Shelton will take over the reins at Target Field, where he previously worked as a bench coach for Paul Molitor and then Baldelli.

His most recent stint was at the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he was manager from 2020 through part-way through the 2025 season, when he was fired following a 12-26 start.

Having spent more than four years at the Pirates, he will be familiar with operating inside a tight budget, with Pittsburgh's $87 million 2025 payroll significantly smaller than the Twins' $142 million.

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Twins owners, the Pohlad family, have been criticized in recent years for not investing more in the team, particularly after the Twins broke their two decade-long playoff win drought in 2023 only for payroll to be cut immediately after amid a decline in TV revenue.

After a fire sale at the 2025 trade deadline, the Twins fired Baldelli as the team ended with a 70-92 record.

Shelton was listed as one of four finalists for the position, with the others being former Mariners manager Scott Servais, Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty, and Yankees hitting coach.