MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Minnesota Twins fired general manager Terry Ryan.
The Twins entered Monday 33-58, 21 games out of first place in the American League Central Division. Only Atlanta has a worse record in the majors.
Assistant GM Rob Antony will take over on an interim basis. Owner and CEO Jim Pohlad made the announcement Monday, hours before the Twins opened a series in Detroit.
"Terry has been a gifted leader of the baseball department for over eighteen seasons," Pohlad said. "It is impossible to overstate his contribution to our game, our team and the Upper Midwest baseball community. The decision to part ways with Terry was difficult, painful and not obvious."
Ryan was named GM in November 2011 after spending the previous four seasons as an assistant to GM Bill Smith. Antony is in his 29th season in the Twins organization and his ninth as an assistant GM.