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MLB rumors: Alex Anthopoulus is a candidate for Twins’ front office

By Brad Berreman

Jul 31, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos addresses the media during a press conference before a game against the Kansas City Royals at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 31, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos addresses the media during a press conference before a game against the Kansas City Royals at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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 The Minnesota Twins are loyal to a fault, but they are looking at a notable outside candidate to lead a re-imagined front office.

The Minnesota Twins have been one of the worst teams in baseball over the last six seasons, and they have worst record in the majors right now (51-87). General manager Terry Ryan was fired in July, just before the trade deadline, with assistant general manager Rob Antony taking over on an interim basis. The Twins are notably loyal to a fault, often promoting from within, but they have apparently extended their search for top executives to lead their front office.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported in August that the Twins were looking to hire a president and a general manager in an ongoing search. On Monday, Rosenthal’s colleague Jon Morosi added a noteworthy name to Minnesota’s search for a president of baseball operations.

Anthopoulos served as general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays from 2005-2015, before rejecting a contract extension and leaving the organization after the Blue Jays were eliminated from the playoffs. Sporting News named Anthopoulos their Executive of the Year last year, and he helped build a Toronto roster that leads the AL East right now.

Anthopoulos has served as vice president of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers since January, and it’s worth noting that organization has moved into more modern, analytics-driven thinking over the last couple years. Anthopoulos also worked under J.P. Ricciardi as assistant general manager in Toronto, and Ricciardi previously worked under Billy Beane in Oakland.

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Anthopoulos has the resume, past influences and relative youth (39 years old) to bring the Twins’ organization to the cutting edge of how a baseball organization should operate. A search firm has probably helped deliver Anthopoulos as a candidate to be president of baseball operations, but principal owner Jim Pohlad seems open-minded and that’s a great sign for the future.

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