A Q&A with new Minnesota Twins General Manager Thad Levine

CEDAR RAPIDS — Thad Levine is the new General Manager of the Minnesota Twins.

The 45-year-old was hired by new Twins Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey to oversee the organization, as it seeks to improve upon a Major League Baseball worst 59-103 record last season.

Levine spent the previous 11 years as assistant general manager for the Texas Rangers. He also has been with the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Levine was in Cedar Rapids this past Wednesday night for the Minnesota Twins Winter Caravan/Cedar Rapids Kernels Hot Stove Banquet. He answered some questions about his new job, the organization, its farm system and other things.

In other Kernels-related news, the parent Twins announced that hitting coach Brian Dinkelman and pitching coach J.P. Martinez will return to their posts for the 2017 season. Tommy Watkins is the new Kernels manager.

Q: Have you been able to catch your breath, yet? I know you got hired late (early November). It must feel like it has just been go, go, go, right?

A: It's been exciting. It has really been challenging, daunting at times, but I think energizing. That's why Derek and I really took these opportunities. We realized the opportunity that this challenge presented. We are both more energized by that than intimidated. Ownership is the key. Jim Pohlad has been very clear that there is no artificial sense of urgency. I think had there been that, we probably wouldn't have embraced the opportunity. But he is prepared for us to take the time necessary to make the right decisions against a backdrop that's really devoid of any artificial sense of urgency. That is going to allow us to make more right decisions than wrong ones.

Q: What are the expectations for this Twins club going into spring training?

A: It feels like playing against them last year that it was the worst outcome you could have expected, considering the talent on the field. So I do think there is going to be a sense of expected improvement by letting these guys play together for one more season. Try and avoid whatever bad ju-ju they had last year. But, secondarily, I think we're at a (point) in the development of the franchise where we want to play better baseball on a night-in, night-out basis. My understanding from those who lived the 162 (games) last year is that we were deficient across the board. Defense, offense, execution. That's what we're challenging our guys to do from the minute we arrive at spring training. Let's play better fundamental baseball. That's the Minnesota Twins way. That's what it's been for 20 years, when they were highly successful. Let's get back to that right now.

Q: What do you think is the state of your farm system right now?

A: I think it is a very strong farm system. The scouts and player development have done an excellent job, as they have done for the last 30 years. They are one of the pre-eminent scouting and player development entities in the game. I do feel like there have been a number of younger players, Byron (Buxton), as you mentioned earlier, that have matriculated to the big leagues. So every time you eliminate players of that caliber from your farm system, it takes you back in the rankings. But I think if you married up our farm system with guys who are in the major leagues with less than a year, year and a half of service, you will find a wealth of young talent that we are very excited about that we think will be around for years to come.

Q: Is pitching the biggest thing that this organization needs? And how will you go about procuring that pitching?

A: Yes, it is. We feel very good about the young position player core. I think it's imperative that we surround them with some smart, veteran acquisitions. Because in this day and age, there is only so much the front office and even the coaching staff can do to help hold players accountable. I think teammates are the best resource for that. On the pitching side, we're going to get Phil Hughes back. He's going to be healthy. We're going to get a whole year of Hector Santiago. Jose Berrios is now one year older and wiser. Trevor May is going to have a chance to fight for a spot in our rotation, as will Tyler Duffey and a handful of other guys, too. I think we have a wealth of options. If any of those guys step up, it can transform our pitching staff, and it will be incumbent upon Derek and myself then to supplement that group with timely acquisitions.

Q: As far as the Kernels, or your farm system, in general, will we see any changes in the way things are done, as far as trying to develop guys?

A: I don't think there's any significant separation in the way the Minnesota Twins have developed players and what Derek and I believe in. We might have slightly different focuses, but, by and large, it's very similar. The biggest change here, in particular, is the manager. Jake Mauer had a tremendous run here and got a chance to get promoted. Tommy Watkins, we are really excited to give him a chance to manage. I think the perception throughout our organization has been that he had the chance to be a good hitting coach and a great manager. So I think we feel this is an opportunity to put him in the right position to where he really has the most upside and potential in his career. We're excited for the next step in his career.

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com