Twins fire manager Ron Gardenhire after 13 seasons

Not even Ron Gardenhire was beloved enough in Minnesota to keep his job after four straight 90-loss seasons. The Twins fired their skipper of 13 seasons on Monday morning after the club finished the 2014 season with a 70-92 record.

Patrick Reusse of 1500 ESPN in Minneapolis was first to report the news. Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan confirmed it. 

Source: Ron Gardenhire out as Twins manager. @1500ESPN_Reusse first reported.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 29, 2014

The Twins are now in the rare-for-them position of searching for a manager. Gardenhire was hired in 2002, taking over after Tom Kelly held the job from 1986-2001. That’s two managers in 28 years, remarkable stability for an MLB franchise. The Twins hadn’t fired a manager since Ray Miller in 1986.

Gardenhire was 1,047-1,007 as Twins manager. After taking over for Kelly, Gardenhire won six division titles in nine years, the most recent being in 2010 when the Twins won 94 games. Gardenhire’s teams, however, haven’t had much success in the postseason, posting just a 6-21 record. They only advanced out of the ALDS once, and were swept in three games during their three most recent postseason trips.

Twins president Dave St. Peter tweeted about Gardenhire after news of the firing spread:

(1of2) Tough day inside @Twins family. So grateful for what Ron Gardenhire has contributed – on and off the field – since joining org in ’87

— Dave St. Peter (@TwinsPrez) September 29, 2014

(2of2) Ton of W’s, developed many players, but’s it’s the way Gardy treats people that I will always remember. Ron & Carol are 100% class.

— Dave St. Peter (@TwinsPrez) September 29, 2014

There have now been four managerial changes in MLB this season. Bo Porter was fired by the Houston Astros. Ron Washington resigned as Texas Rangers skipper. Kirk Gibson was fired last week by the Arizona Diamondbacks. All three of those jobs are still open.

Twins beat writer LaVelle Neal says the Twins have let go of Gardenhire’s entire coaching staff, but the members could be back if the club’s next manager asks them to return. Some of the names flying around as potential candidates to replace Gardenhire include Paul Molitor (who coached in Minnesota this season), Terry Steinbach (the Twins’ bench coach) and Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo, who is also being considered for the Astros job.

Gardenhire was the second-longest tenured manager in MLB after the Angels’ Mike Scioscia, who was hired in 2000. 

More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:

– – – – – – –

Mike Oz is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz