Winds of change swept through Target Field over the last homestand, as long-standing GM Terry Ryan tendered his resignation effective immediately with long-time assistant Rob Antony taking over the role for the time being.

And while the move took Antony by surprise, it’s not exactly a new experience for the Twins lifer who started out working in the team’s PR department in the early 90s. Antony has been at the forefront of finalizing contracts and a large part of the rest of the offseason protocol, and even was acting GM as Ryan recovered from treatment for neck cancer at the beginning of the 2014 season. So for instance, Antony was responsible for the trade that brought Eduardo Nunez to the club, among other moves.

Antony was made aware of Ryan leaving about halfway through last Sunday’s (nine days ago) game, with manager Paul Molitor finding out shortly thereafter and the news becoming public knowledge late Monday morning. And while the Twins have retained Korn Ferry — a global search firm with roots in Minneapolis and its fingerprints on recent moves with the Timberwolves, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays and even with MLB in New Jersey — in an effort to search far and wide for the team’s next front office leadership structure, this could reasonably be construed as an audition for Antony to get the job, or rather have the interim tag removed.

He’s choosing not to think of it that way, and will only go about his business as best he can without thinking too much about the future.

But Antony met with local media for nearly 20 minutes, providing numerous useful quotes about the team’s direction and proving that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree as far as he and his mentor (Ryan) are concerned.

Here are the highlights:

• Antony said the first thing he had to do was get his feet underneath him, because the Ryan move came as such a shock. He said he’s spoken to his people in the organization, and they’re going to try execute their plan to make some moves and improve the organization.
• Antony said he’s encouraged about the progress of trade talks that he’s had with other clubs, but with that being said, you never know until you “cross the finish line.”
• It’s not terribly surprising, but Antony said the future is the primary focus at this deadline for the Twins. “A lot of times that means contending teams are looking for a veteran-type player or somebody with some experience that they need to help their club. We’re looking for maybe someone that would have under control with a chance to help us in the long-term,” he said.
• Antony said he’s had discussions about moving relievers today, and that there’s a domino effect every time a marquee guy (in this case Aroldis Chapman) comes off the market. At that point, Antony noted, teams that missed out go back to the shopping list and look for the next option.
• Antony was told by the organization to take full autonomy with the role. “Complete. They told me to take this thing, and do what I think is right and best for the organization. I’ll keep them updated on talks and where we’re at, but at the same time I feel comfortable doing what I think is right.”
• It’s probably not terribly surprising, but Antony said most of the focus will be on adding players from the minor leagues. “ A lot of times when you deal with contenders, they don’t want to subtract from their major league roster because that just leaves another hole for them to fill,” Antony said. “But if they had somebody that they’re comfortable with that they could slide in and that person is available and is a fit for us, we’ll talk about major league for major league. But a lot of times in most conversations we’re talking about the minor leagues.” Antony also said he wouldn’t rule out adding a player who was on the disabled list, but like Ryan said on the last homestand, the medical staff would have to sign off on it. Ostensibly the same thing applies to if the Twins were to move a player on the DL (i.e. Trevor Plouffe).
• Antony is trying to avoid reading too much into the situation surrounding the job, including physically reading clips or monitoring the situation in the media. “I haven’t given it much thought at all. I’ve intentionally not read any clips or watched much of anything. I’m trying to just stay focused on the job. If you start thinking about those types of things you get selfish, and worry about yourself. Right now I need to worry about the organization. If I do the right things, I’ll take my chances.”
• Antony said he’s talked to Ryan in the last week or so, with the conversations focused largely on baseball. “We’ve had a few conversations,” Antony said. “It’s mostly been baseball more so than anything. As far as guidance goes, we’ve had the last 20 years. He’s always been a role model. I’m not sure he has to add anything right now that would help me that he hasn’t already done for me.” Antony added that Ryan is doing “pretty well” personally since leaving the organization.
• Antony acknowledged the possible desire to make a “splashy” trade in his position, but suggested he’s basically in the opposite school of thought: “I think I’m more so the other way,” Antony said. “I don’t want to make a deal just to make a deal, or try and show somebody that we’re doing something. I would like to make a deal that will help us and feel good about it. I’m not going to make any decisions that, in my heart, I don’t believe are the right ones. So if we don’t make any deals, that’s because what was presented and the ability that we had to acquire wasn’t worth what we had to give up. I’m not going to do anything I don’t think is right.”
• Antony said the team is specifically looking to bolster its pitching staff, especially in the rotation. He doesn’t feel the team has many starters that are particularly close to helping the big league club at this point — of course, with the exception of Jose Berrios — so if the club is able to add starters, that’s his preference. He did, however, say that if a team has interest in particular players and is offering quality in return, they aren’t in a position to worry too much about where the player plays. “If some team has interest in our players and they have something we think would dramatically improve our situation, it doesn’t matter their position,” Antony said.
• There has been almost no time for reflection, Antony said. He’s had to be very forward-thinking with the timing of taking the job, and the need to reach out and connect with most of the clubs in the league — which he said he’s done. Interestingly, Antony said he’s had some interesting talks with other selling clubs, and there’s some potential to make deals there as well.”
• Antony sort of tiptoed around the idea of if he’d have a job in the organization if he wasn’t named the GM. “I’m in this position now, and they’ve entrusted me with it,” Antony said. “I just want to do a good job. Like I said, I know there’s going to be a process. I know they’ll talk to people internal and external, and all that stuff. None of that concerns me. That’s for (owner) Jim (Pohlad) and (team president) Dave (St. Peter), and those people to determine who they want in that chair. Right now I just want to do the best job that I can. To be honest with you, if I don’t get the job, I’ll accept the result.”
• Molitor and Antony are in regular communication about players possibly on the move, so that the manager can not only give feedback, but also be prepared about any adjustments he’d have to be ready for on the 25-man roster.
• Antony said he’s not opposed to kicking in money in any potential deal to facilitate a trade. “I’m not opposed to sending money along with a player if that means getting some return back,” he said. “I believe that’s fine. We’re willing to be creative to try and make something happen. Some players I’d be willing to do that; other players I wouldn’t.”
• One player Antony doesn’t appear to be likely to kick money in on to move is starter Ervin Santana, who is coincidentally pitching for the Twins against one of his former teams, the Atlanta Braves, on Tuesday night. “I think he’s the veteran we wanted to get when we went out and signed him,” Antony said. “There’s been talk about moving him, but you have to pick up money. I don’t see it that way, because I don’t see who you’d go get on the free agent market after this season that you could only give a two-year deal (for $27 million) with a club option, so I think Ervin has value that way. But I also think he has value in that clubhouse. He’s a leader among the pitchers — starting pitchers especially. And every five days when he goes out there, we feel decent about our chances to win the game. So I think he holds a lot of value to us, as well as somebody else who might want to acquire him.”
• Basically speaking, Antony suggested he wouldn’t put a “for sale” sign up on Santana, but if a team made him an offer he couldn’t refuse, that’s a different story. “If he’s going, it’s going to be in a good baseball trade that we believe we got fair return,” Antony said of Santana. “But I’ll be honest with you, I’m not calling anybody to move him.”
• Antony also added that if the team were to move Santana, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to replace him on the upcoming free agent market: “Absolutely. Young pitchers get locked up. You look at what the free agent market will look like, and I’m not sure you can go replace Santana if you trade him. You go into the offseason saying you need another veteran, that you feel good about and confident he’ll give you a good outing every fifth day, I’m not sure that guy is going to be out there. If he is, he’ll be very sought-after, and there’ll be a lot of competition to get him.”
• Antony said he wouldn’t say anyone is “untouchable,” but that there are players “that’d be really difficult to part with.”
• Antony said he didn’t want to call anyone a “fallback” option, but his feeling was that some of the players the club may move might need other moves elsewhere to happen first before those windows open.
• Finally, Antony said that while he appreciates the Latin influence that Santana has had on players like Jose Berrios, he hasn’t given a ton of thought to finding a similar position player. “I haven’t given that a lot of thought,” Antony said. “I really don’t break it down too much that way, because I’ve been around this club and I see the way everybody gets along in the clubhouse. I think we have a lot of younger Latin players, but I think some of them have very good leadership qualities. It’s going to take some time for them to evolve into that, but anytime you can add a veteran player — whether they’re Latin or not — if you get a quality veteran, A) they have to be able to perform on the field and B) when it’s a guy in that clubhouse that can make an impact, obviously you saw last year how important and valuable that is.”

Brandon Warne

Brandon Warne covers the Minnesota Twins for Zone Coverage and is also the site's senior editor. He hosts the Midwest Swing podcast for the site as well. He and his wife Amanda live in the outer Twin Cities suburbs with their daughter, Harper.

All Articles