Rocco Baldelli will return next year as manager of the Minnesota Twins despite a late-season collapse that left the defending American League Central champions out of the playoffs.

President of baseball operations Derek Falvey confirmed Sunday before the team’s last game that Baldelli’s job is safe. The Twins were 12-26 in their past 38 games entering the finale.

The 43-year-old Baldelli has managed the team to three division titles in six seasons with Minnesota. His overall record was 457-412 going into the final game.

Falvey also said he was expecting to return for a ninth year with the Twins in 2025.

Baldelli acknowledged Saturday that he has heard the boos and “Fire Rocco” chants but said he respects Twins fans and added that they “have a right to feel almost any way they choose.”

Players have backed Baldelli throughout.

“I don’t think it’s super fair to put everything on him,” pitcher Bailey Ober told reporters Saturday. “Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. If the players hear [the chants], I don’t think anyone’s agreeing with that. It’s like, seriously, can’t you see what’s going on? He’s not the one at fault for this mishap that happened.

“We’re the ones performing out there and didn’t get the job done. He’s putting out the lineups, and we’re trying to do it. I feel like most of the blame should be on the players.”

Added shortstop Carlos Correa, who missed 53 games with a foot injury: “If you have anybody to blame, blame me for going down for two months and not being a part of the team. I think that’s one of the main reasons.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

DENVER — Charlie Blackmon trotted out to center field all alone and stood above the giant No. 19 that was etched into the grass at Coors Field.

The longtime Colorado Rockies outfielder known for his bushy beard tipped his cap to the cheering fans one last time as a player on Sunday before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It was Charlie Blackmon Day at the ballpark as the four-time All-Star waved goodbye to the game after 14 seasons with the Rockies, the only team he has ever known. Blackmon was back in a familiar spot on the lineup card, too — starting in center field and batting leadoff. This was the first time he’s been in center in six years.

“Literally, the best teammate I’ve ever had,” third baseman Ryan McMahon said. “He’s the most unselfish person I’ve been around. The total pro’s pro.”

A second-round draft pick of the Rockies in 2008, Blackmon blossomed into one of just 50 players in major league history to amass more than 1,800 hits, 325 doubles, 225 home runs, 65 triples and 800 RBIs. He was the NL batting champion in 2017 when he hit .331. He leaves as the franchise’s all-time leader in triples and second behind Hall of Famer Todd Helton in games played, runs scored, doubles and total bases.

Blackmon long has been a fan favorite — along with his catchy walk-up song, “Your Love,” by The Outfield, which never failed to get the crowd singing along. Not only that, but his determined play earned respect from dugout to dugout.

“For me, he’s everything I would want in a baseball player — outside of that big, old, ugly beard,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts cracked. “You look at the last, call it 10 to 12 years, he’s one of probably my top five players I’ve enjoyed watching play.”

This sunny afternoon was all about Blackmon. His wife, Ashley, and two young kids, Josie and Wyatt, joined him on the field for a pregame ceremony, where he was presented with a plaque. He also received a Toyota truck that had been perched on top of a sign in left field. His kids each threw a pitch to him.

On the way into the park, a fan held up a sign that read, “Let Chuck pitch.” Probably won’t happen, manager Bud Black said before the game. He did ask Blackmon if he wanted to carry out the lineup card to the umpires, but Blackmon politely declined.

After all, he had a game to get prepare for.

Black did have a emotional meeting with Blackmon in his office before first pitch.

“We hugged,” Black said. “And then we sort of pulled away, and we smiled at each other and said: ‘Hey, I’m going to see you again. This is not it.'”

Blackmon announced his decision to retire last Monday. He’s expected to remain with the organization in a non-playing role.

Translation: He will still be around come spring training.

“We’ll be like: ‘Hey, Charlie, you’re on field four. You’ve got the outfielders,'” Black joked.

Initially, Blackmon balked at taking the field by himself for the start of the game. He doesn’t need — or crave — being the center of attention.

“I go, ‘Chuck, you’re going to run out to center, but everybody’s not going to go out there with you,'” Black recounted. “He goes, ‘How long am I going to be out there by myself?’ I’m like, ’20, 30 seconds maybe.’ He goes, ‘OK, but not any longer than that.”

Blackmon took the field to applause and the playing of “Centerfield” by John Fogerty. His teammates — and the Dodgers — clapped for him on the top rail of the dugout. He played the first inning in center before moving over to right for the second.

“The way I play this game,” McMahon said, “it’s all based off things I’ve learned from him.”

Blackmon singled up the middle in the third inning and was subbed out for a pinch runner. He received another ovation from the fans.

NEW YORK — Star Aaron Judge was scratched from the New York Yankees‘ starting lineup Sunday from the rain-delayed regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and first baseman Ben Rice was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre a day after Anthony Rizzo got hurt.

Judge was in the original starting lineup playing center field but was replaced by Trent Grisham about the time New York said the game would not start as scheduled at 3:05 p.m. ET. The field likely will be soggy when play does start.

Judge got his third game off Friday, a day after the AL East title was clinched, then returned Saturday and went 0-for-5, tying his career high with five strikeouts. He is hitting .322 and leads the major leagues with 58 homers and 144 RBIs.

Rizzo fractured the fourth and fifth fingers of his right hand when hit by a pitch from Pittsburgh’s Ryan Borucki in the seventh inning of a 9-4 loss to the Pirates on Saturday. It was the 22nd time Rizzo was hit by a pitch.

New York has not placed Rizzo on the injured list.

Rice played 48 games at first base and initially was called up after Rizzo fractured his right forearm in a collision at first base with Boston reliever Brennan Bernadino on June 16.

Drafted as a catcher out of Dartmouth in 2021, Rice batted .175 with seven homers and 23 RBIs. In the field, he committed one error in 279 chances for a .996 fielding percentage.

“He’s obviously gained a lot of experience at first base this year and I feel like he handled that all really well,” Boone said. “I feel like he handled himself defensively, maybe even better than I anticipated.”

Rice slumped after hitting three homers against the Red Sox on July 7, hitting .117 (11 for 94) in the final 31 games of his first stint before being optioned to the minors on Aug. 31. At Triple-A, Rice batted .293 with 12 homers and 33 RBIs in 30 games.

Rizzo hit .228 with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 92 games this season, including .380 (8-for-21) since returning from the injured list on Sept. 1.

A three-time All-Star, Rizzo’s 2023 season was derailed on May 28 when he collided with San Diego’s Fernando Tatis Jr. attempting to apply a tag on a pickoff try. He was diagnosed with a concussion two months later and hit .174 with 10 RBIs in 47 games after colliding with Tatis, finishing with a .244 average, 12 homers and 41 RBIs.

The Yankees acquired Rizzo from the Cubs at the 2021 trade deadline and re-signed him to a $40 million, two-year contract after he hit .224 with 32 homers and 75 RBIs in 130 games in 2022. New York has a $17 million option for 2025 with a $6 million buyout.

Cabrera, who has made five starts at first base, also could be an option.

DJ LeMahieu has not played since Sept. 3 because of right hip impingement.

“I think as I’ve said, Oswaldo with a glove on I’m good with,” Boone said. “He’s got a lot of work over at first this year, even going back to spring training a little bit.”