After getting fired by the Twins at the end of the season, Rocco Baldelli didn’t have to wait long for more opportunities to come his way. Baldelli told Dan Hayes of The Athletic that as many as 10 teams reached out after he was let go by Minnesota. The former manager didn’t specify the roles, but it’s clear there’s interest around the league in hiring him. While he might not jump back into coaching right away, Baldelli said he’d be open to returning to a managerial role. “If (the situation) matches, I’ll do it again someday. I’d love to be able to do it again. But I owe my family a little time.”

Baldelli took over as Minnesota’s skipper in 2019. He was the youngest manager in the league when he was hired. He led the club to immediate success, winning 101 games in his first season. It was a 23-win improvement on the previous season and the first time the Twins had won 100+ games since 1965. Minnesota won the AL Central for the first time since 2010, though they were swept in the ALDS by the Yankees. The standout 2019 campaign earned Baldelli AL Manager of the Year honors.

Minnesota won the AL Central again in the shortened 2020 season, but was bounced in the Wild Card round by Houston. The club struggled in 2021 and 2022, finishing well below .500. Baldelli got the team back on track in 2023, leading them back to the postseason. The skipper would earn his first playoff series victory that year, sweeping Toronto in the Wild Card round. The Twins would then be dispatched by the Astros in the ALDS.

The Twins finished with a winning record in 2024, but fell short of a playoff bid. This past season was the worst in Baldelli’s tenure. The club managed just 70 wins, finishing fourth in the AL Central for the second straight season. The disappointing result ultimately cost Baldelli his job.

After his playing days ended following the 2010 season, Baldelli signed on with the Rays as a Special Assistant to Baseball Operations. He worked in the front office until 2015, when he became Tampa Bay’s first base coach. After three seasons manning the first base box, Baldelli spent a year as the team’s Major League Field Coordinator.

With the Padres now in the market for a new manager, we could have as many as eight teams looking to fill the role. Skip Schumaker landed the Rangers’ gig, but the Giants, Angels, and Braves all have vacancies, in addition to Baldelli’s former spot in Minnesota. The Nationals, Orioles, and Rockies closed the 2025 season with interim managers, and none have stated whether the fill-ins will return. Baldelli’s name will likely be floated for all of those gigs. Even if he doesn’t get a head job, he plans to work for a team in some capacity for 2026. “It’s possible I may not manage this year, but I fully expect to stay active.“