Derek Falvey


Derek Falvey is an American baseball executive who is currently the President of Baseball Operations for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball. Prior to joining the Twins, Falvey was an executive for the Cleveland Indians.

Early life and playing career

Derek Falvey grew up in a small home in Lynn, Massachusetts with his parents Candy and Stephen Falvey and sister Shannon Falvey.. He attended Trinity College, and played college baseball for the Trinity Bantams as a pitcher. He graduated with a degree in economics in 2005.

Executive career

In 2007, Falvey began independently scouting players in the Cape Cod Baseball League and used the experience as an opportunity to connect with scouting personnel and Major League executives. His experience in the league led to an internship with the Cleveland Indians.
Falvey began working for the Cleveland Indians as an intern in 2007. He remained with the Indians, working in the amateur and international scouting departments through 2009 after which he transitioned into Baseball Operations as Assistant Director, Baseball Operations. During the 2011–12 offseason, the Indians promoted Falvey to co-director of baseball operations, along with David Stearns. In 2016, the Indians promoted him to assistant general manager.

Minnesota Twins

On October 3, 2016, the Minnesota Twins hired Falvey as their executive vice president and chief baseball officer. He officially started his duties with the Twins after the Indians lost to the Chicago Cubs in the 2016 World Series. He works with GM Thad Levine. His first big move was signing catcher Jason Castro to a 3 year $24 million dollar contract. On June 12, 2017, the Twins had the number 1 overall pick, and they selected shortstop Royce Lewis. On July 24, 2017, Falvey traded for Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Jaime García, giving up prospect Huascar Ynoa. However, the Twins went on to slump, so he traded Garcia to the New York Yankees on July 30 in exchange for prospects Zack Littell and Dietrich Enns. He also traded closer Brandon Kintzler to the Cubs for prospect Tyler Watson on July 31. The Twins went on to finish 85-77 and make the playoffs for the first time since 2010. They lost to the Yankees 8-4 in the 2017 American League Wild Card Game.
In the 2017-2018 offseason, Falvey made several free agent moves. He signed closer Fernando Rodney to a 1 year $4.5 contract, reliever Zach Duke to a 1 year $2.45 million contract, reliever Addison Reed to a 2 year $16.75 contract, first baseman Logan Morrison to a 1 year $6.5 million contract, starter Michael Pineda to a 2 year $10 million contract, and starter Lance Lynn to a 1 year $12 million contract. Pineda was signed after undergoing Tommy John surgery, so he rehabbed in 2018 and pitched for the Twins in 2019. Additionally, he traded for Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi, giving up prospect Jermaine Palacios.
Despite all of the offseason acquisitions, the Twins struggled in 2018. This prompted a series of mid season trades. On July 27, Falvey traded infielder Eduardo Escobar to the Arizona Diamondbacks for prospects Jhoan Duran, Gabriel Maciel, and Ernie de la Trinidad. He also traded reliever Ryan Pressly to the Houston Astros for prospects Jorge Alcala and Gilberto Celestino. On July 30, he traded Zach Duke to the Seattle Mariners for Chase De Jong and prospect Ryan Costello. He also traded Lance Lynn to the New York Yankees for Tyler Austin and prospect Luis Rijo. On July 31, he traded second baseman Brian Dozier to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Logan Forsythe and prospects Luke Raley and Devin Smeltzer. On August 9, he traded Fernando Rodney to the Oakland Athletics for prospect Dakota Chalmers. The Twins finished 2018 at 78-84, missing the playoffs and finishing in second place in the AL Central.
In the 2018-2019 offseason, Falvey signed second baseman Jonathan Schoop to a 1 year $7.5 million contract, designed hitter Nelson Cruz to a 1 year $14.3 million contract with a club option for 2020, starting pitcher Martin Perez to a 1 year $4 million contract, reliever Blake Parker to a 1 year $1.8 million contract, and utility man Marwin Gonzalez to a 2 year $21 million contract. He also claimed first baseman C.J. Cron off of waivers from the Rays. On February 14, Falvey signed right fielder Max Kepler to a 5 year $35 million extension with a team option and shortstop Jorge Polanco to a 5 year $25.75 million extension with 2 team options. On July 27, he traded prospect Lewin Diaz to the Miami Marlins in exchange for reliever Sergio Romo and prospect Chris Vallimont. On July 31, he traded for San Francisco Giants reliever Sam Dyson, giving up prospects Jaylin Davis, Prelander Berroa, and Kai-Wei Teng. The Twins would go on to finish the 2019 season 101-61 and finished first in the AL Central. The team also set the single season team home run record with 307. They were swept by the Yankees in the divisional round of the 2019 MLB Playoffs.
In the 2019-2020 offseason, the Twins outrighted Sam Dyson and non tendered C.J. Cron and Trevor Hildenberger. Falvey offered Jake Odorizzi a qualifying offer for 1 year $17.8 million, and it was accepted. He also picked up the team option for Nelson Cruz worth $12 million. Falvey also re-signed Michael Pineda to a 2 year $20 million contract and Sergio Romo to a 1 year $4.75 million contract with a team option. Falvey also signed several free agents. He signed starting pitcher Rich Hill to a 1 year $3 million contract with up to $9.5 in incentives, starting pitcher Homer Bailey to a 1 year $7.5 million contract, reliever Tyler Clippard to a 1 year $2.75 million contract, catcher Alex Avila to a 1 year $4.25 million contract, and third baseman Josh Donaldson to a 4 year $92 million contract with a team option. The Donaldson contract is the largest free agent contract in Minnesota Twins history. Additionally, Falvey signed third baseman Miguel Sano to a 3 year $30 million extension with a team option and transitioned Sano to first base with the addition of Donaldson. On February 10, 2020, Falvey made a trade with the Dodgers where he traded prospects Brusdar Graterol, Luke Raley, and a Competitive Balance Round B draft pick in exchange for starting pitcher Kenta Maeda, prospect Jair Camargo, and $10 million.