The Twins gave Doug Mientkiewicz a promotion after all. Just not the one he originally sought.
Mientkiewicz, a former Twins first baseman who was one of three finalists last month to succeed Ron Gardenhire in the major leagues, will instead take over Minnesota's Class AA team, the Chattanooga Lookouts, in 2015. Mientkiewicz, 39, spent the past two seasons leading Class A Fort Myers, and last September led the Miracle to the Florida State League championship.
The Twins announced Friday they will retain six of their seven minor-league managers. The exception is at Class AAA Rochester, where former Cubs manager Mike Quade will take over for Gene Glynn, who was promoted to be the Twins' third-base coach.
Quade, 57, has spent 17 seasons as a minor-league manager, including nine at the Triple-A level, and one-plus at the helm in Chicago, where he went 95-104 with the Cubs in 2010 and 2011.
"With his leadership, experience and passion for the game, he will be a great addition to the Red Wings family and the Rochester community," said Brad Steil, the Twins director of minor league operations.
Quade was a roving outfield and baserunning coordinator in the Yankees' minor league system last year, but has served as a manager in five different organizations.
Glynn's coaching staff — pitching coach Marty Mason and hitting coach Tim Doherty — will return.
Meanwhile, Jeff Smith, who managed for five seasons at Class AA New Britain — the Twins dropped New Britain in favor of Chattanooga in October — will swap jobs with Mientkiewicz, taking over for a second stint in Fort Myers. Smith, 40, has managed in the Twins' system for nine seasons, including 2008-09 in Fort Myers, where he led the Miracle to the playoffs in both seasons.
