The Minnesota Twins have replaced Bill Smith as general manager, naming former GM Terry Ryan to the job on an interim basis, the team announced today.

“No one in the Twins’ organization wants to win any more than Bill,” Twins owner Jim Pohlad said in a statement. “He is unquestionably loyal, committed and talented. The Twins goal is to get better in 2012 and beyond. Bill was equally motivated to achieve that goal but we differed in the scope and approach that was required. Going forward, we intend to have additional discussions with Bill about an ongoing role within the organization. We wish Bill, Becky and the entire Smith family nothing but the best.

“We are fortunate and grateful for Terry Ryan’s willingness to step in as interim general manager.”

Smith, 53, who has been with the organization since 1986, was named GM on Sept. 13, 2007, after Ryan decided to step out of the role. Since then, Ryan has been special adviser to the general manager.

The Twins lost 99 games last year, second-worst in Minnesota history, after winning the American League Central Division the previous two years.

“Working for the Minnesota Twins for the past 26 seasons has been the greatest professional privilege I could have ever imagined,” Smith said in a statement. “I will be forever grateful to the Pohlad family for the many wonderful opportunities they have provided to me, including the chance to sit in the General Manager’s chair for the past four seasons. My thanks and admiration to each of the wonderfully talented people with whom I have worked, and to Tom Kelly, Ron Gardenhire, their hard-working coaches & trainers and a large group of players who always represent the Minnesota Twins on the field and in the community better than any team in Baseball! Finally, it gives me great pleasure to hand this baton back to the best baseball man I have ever known, Terry Ryan.”

Ryan, 58, was Twins general manager from 1994 to 2007.

“As we move ahead, I’m looking forward to the challenge of improving this club for 2012 and beyond,” Ryan said in a statement. “We have many assets in place including a strong front office, manager, coaching staff and returning core of players. We have a lot of work to do in relation to development of our roster, but I’m optimistic in our collective abilities to ensure the future on-field success of this franchise.”