Major League Baseball

Struggling Twins fire GM Terry Ryan, name interim replacement

Published Nov. 15, 2016 3:13 p.m. ET

Dan Graf

Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan came out of retirement in November 2011, but his second stint with the team ended Monday without any of the success that marked his first.

The Twins fired Ryan and have named assistant GM Rob Antony as an interim replacement.

Ryan, 62, was Minnesota’s GM from just after the 1994 season until 2007, when he stepped down to become a special assistant to his replacement, Bill Smith. The Twins, who had been to the playoffs six times from 2002 to 2010, crashed to last place in their division in 2011, and that prompted Ryan’s return.

After a surprising rise from last place in 2014 to second in the AL Central last season, Minnesota is back in fifth place with a 33-58 record this season and hope in its youth movement is waning.

Twins owner and CEO Jim Pohlad thanked Ryan for his lengthy service in a statement:

"The decision to part ways with Terry was difficult, painful and not obvious. We are extremely grateful and very thankful to Terry, his wife Karilyn and their family for being a part of the Minnesota Twins."

Ryan, too, was grateful:

“While disappointed we were unable to bring Minnesota a third World Championship, I leave the GM post with immense pride in being part of the Twins organization for the better part of three decades.”

Antony has been assistant GM since 2007 and has been with the Twins for 29 years.

Minnesota Twins announce GM Terry Ryan has been relieved of his duties. Assistant GM Rob Antony as Interim GM. pic.twitter.com/LF2iYotKZ9
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 18, 2016