Minnesota fires Molitor, citing youth movement

Two years ago, the Minnesota Twins made Derek Falvey their chief baseball officer with the precondition that Paul Molitor remain as manager.

Molitor presided over a playoff team and won the American League Manager of the Year Award in 2017, but the Twins slipped backward this season. Last week, Falvey and general manager Thad Levine decided the time was right to hire their own manager.

Citing pursuit of more productive development by their younger players, Falvey and Levine fired Molitor Tuesday while offering him an opportunity to remain with the organization in an undefined position in baseball operations.

“This wasn’t about our record this year. This is about what we think is best as we continue to grow a young team in the direction toward being a contender,” Falvey said.

Falvey and other club executives expressed confidence that Molitor would stay with the Twins beyond the 20 years he has already worked for them in various roles, including the final three seasons of his Hall of Fame playing career.

“I fully respect that decision,” Molitor said in a statement released by the team. “I will forever be grateful for the opportunity they gave me to serve in the role as manager for these past four years.”

Yankees

After getting just one out for New York against Minnesota last year, Luis Severino will start this year’s winner-take-all wild card matchup against Oakland Wednesday night. “I just want to win,” Severino said. “If I can go four good innings and then the bullpen comes, that would be great.”

Rangers

General manager Jon Daniels anticipates interviewing at least five to eight candidates in his search for a new manager. Daniels wasn’t ready to talk about a list of potential candidates to replace Jeff Banister. The Rangers fired Banister with 10 games left in the season. They finished last in the AL West.