Penny-Wise, Clubhouse-Foolish: The Twins’ Growing Habit of Off-Day Demotions

[Matthew Taylor]

On Wednesday, the Twins optioned Carson McCusker back to the minors after a short stint in the majors. That decision wasn’t paired with a corresponding roster move. Byron Buxton will likely return Friday, but Thursday’s off day gave the Twins cover to delay his activation by 24 hours.

Why make the move a day early? It’s simple. By doing so, the team saves roughly $4,200 in salary and a day of service time. That’s the daily rate for a major leaguer making the league minimum (compared to about $200 per day for a triple-A player). To McCusker, who climbed from indie ball to the majors and likely isn’t long for an extended big-league career, that day meant everything. To the Twins and their ownership group, it amounted to a rounding error.

This isn’t a one-off decision. The McCusker move is the latest in a clear and troubling trend. So far in 2025, the Twins have repeatedly executed this kind of roster manipulation, and did the same last year. They send players down on the eve of an off day and delay the promotion or recall of a replacement until after the break. Ryan Fitzgerald, Mickey Gasper, David Festa, Eiberson Castellano, and Edouard Julien have all been subject to this strategy. (Hat tip to Greggory Masterson, who’s been tracking these decisions. We believe the team has saved nearly $100,000 through a bevy of these one-day layover transactions.)

Technically, it’s legal. Across the league, the practice is becoming more common. But no team seems to embrace it as eagerly or as frequently as the Minnesota Twins.

The motivation is clear: money. But the cost isn’t zero. These small-sum savings, $4,000 here, $4,200 there, might protect the club’s books, but they undercut its culture. That missing service time and Major League salary matters, especially to fringe players who may never build enough days to qualify for arbitration or earn pension benefits. And the message it sends is that the organization prioritizes savings over people.

This isn't just about McCusker. It’s about the perception the Twins are creating across the baseball world. Prospects, minor-league free agents, and indie ball standouts pay attention. They see who treats players like people and who treats them like payroll liabilities. The more the Twins act like the latter, the harder it becomes to attract high-character depth options in the future.

Major League Baseball already has a history of poor treatment toward non-union players in Triple-A. Facilities are worse. Accommodations are worse. Salaries hover around $200 per day. Players who don’t crack the 40-man roster are largely on their own. And when they finally get the call, it’s a coin toss whether they’ll be held up as a feel-good story or used as a financial lever.

The Twins’ off-day demotion strategy may be within the rules, but it is outside the spirit of the game. It reflects a mindset that prioritizes marginal gains at the expense of human beings. That’s a bad look for the front office. Over time, it could become a bigger problem for the franchise than the pennies they are saving are worth.

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What do you think? Is this just smart roster management, or is it a short-sighted move that damages the Twins' reputation? Leave a comment below and start the conversation.

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[FlyingFinn]

That one day could potentially help the Twins in the long run. Teams have manipulated service time forever so they avoid that potential huge bump in pay or a player going to free agency. If it's the industry standard, I don't have a problem with it. For most of us, we didn't even come close to sniffing a day in the bigs and would have been elated to even be up there for a few days and get a hit like McCusker did.

[arby58]

I don't see it as a big deal. I doubt that 'Prospects, minor-league free agents, and indie ball standouts pay attention' to this to the same degree as 'will they get the opportunity to get to the big leagues - and stay there if they perform?' Nor do I understand how this is 'outside the spirit of the game.' Every MLB player understands this is a business - trades, roster moves, etc. are made as business decisions. 

[jimmyc]

Were they supposed to fly him to Seattle before sending him to AAA?  Instead they flew him to Omaha and he was available to play on Thursday.  There is value in assembling a talented team at AAA and in McCusker getting at-bats after getting 6 at-bats during his 9 games in the MLB roster. 

[Mike Sixel]

I agree with the OP completely here. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

The Twins also paid the minor leaguers during Covid.

[Mike Sixel]

16 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

The Twins also paid the minor leaguers during Covid.

Which was awesome !

[Guest]

 "To McCusker, who climbed from indie ball to the majors and likely isn’t long for an extended big-league career, that day meant everything."

Really, it meant EVERYTHING?

The exaggeration is disappointing. Perhaps it has just become normal for "sports folks" to overuse superlatives.

Good for him that he got one day and is eligible to access some form of lifetime health care benefit.  What that is I could not find out in a quick search.

At 43 days he would be eligible for some form of a pension, so this would have value, but in no means do I see that this could have meant EVERYTHING to him.

 

[Jocko87]

Oh won't someone think of the players! 

The CBA is the rule book. You want that day for them? Negotiate better. 

Until you actually here a player gripe, don't write this stuff. You won't hear a gripe because they understand rules. 

[gil4]

42 minutes ago, jimmyc said:

Were they supposed to fly him to Seattle before sending him to AAA?  Instead they flew him to Omaha and he was available to play on Thursday.  There is value in assembling a talented team at AAA and in McCusker getting at-bats after getting 6 at-bats during his 9 games in the MLB roster. 

Not just available to play, he played the whole game.  Then he was off yesterday, so it wasn't all about getting him at-bats.  But I agree that traveling Tampa --> Omaha makes more sense than Tampa --> Seattle --> Omaha 

[Guest]

Here is an article from a financial advisor who specializes in professional athletes. It is from 2024, so not completely current, but should cover the current collective bargaining agreement, I think.

https://www.momentprivatewealth.com/post/mlb-benefits-explained

I kinda feel like a dog with a bone regarding this topic, not sure why and not sure anybody should really pay any attention to my rant.

Maybe Twins Daily could do an article on what it means to be on the 26/40 man roster. I am sure they have much better sources that I.

[BSLinPA]

I get a kick out of folks who are so anxious to tell others how they should spend their money.....especially when the spending is not necessary.

Perhaps the OP will pay our annual fees that we have access to Twins Caretaker Content??  You know, "in the spirit of the game", "free press" and since it means "everything" to some of us.  (sarc noted)

I love the Carson McCusker story.  I hope he becomes a MLB regular and reaps all the benefits to which he will be entitled. Jocko87 is on the mark.......the CBA is the employment rulebook.  Both sides have signed off on it and shall abide by it....no tears, no susprises, no refunds.  Important issues will be negotiated in the future.......this matter not will not be among them.

[mikelink45]

What was really bad was how little opportunity he got while he was up.  We never really saw if he was ready for the majors.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

So this is a growing trend in MLB amongst all teams, but the Twins get singled out because what...this is a Twins fans site? I wonder how for down list of concerns this is for the MLBPA? Gotta be near the absolute bottom.

Rip the Twins and ownership for lots of things, but this just feels like reaching to find another thing to b**ch about. Players don't like it? Either petition the MLBPA or play better so it doesn't happen to you.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

40 minutes ago, BSLinPA said:

Perhaps the OP will pay our annual fees that we have access to Twins Caretaker Content??  You know, "in the spirit of the game", "free press" and since it means "everything" to some of us.  (sarc noted)

I think we have a winner!

[MMMordabito]

[Doctor Wu]

Technically, it’s legal. Across the league, the practice is becoming more common. But no team seems to embrace it as eagerly or as frequently as the Minnesota Twins.

Seems to, or are the Twins really cheaper than other teams? I honestly don't know, but as you noted, this seems to be a common practice in MLB nowadays, so I'm not sure this is an issue worth worrying about to much. That said ...

It’s about the perception the Twins are creating across the baseball world. Prospects, minor-league free agents, and indie ball standouts pay attention. They see who treats players like people and who treats them like payroll liabilities. The more the Twins act like the latter, the harder it becomes to attract high-character depth options in the future.

If this is indeed the perception that agents and players have of the Twins, then it certainly is an issue that needs to be looked at and changed. People always take about the "culture" of the club, so if we are seen as cheap or unfair, that will certainly handicap any efforts to lure players to the organization. Maybe this is, as others have posted, much ado about nothing, but I wouldn't just dismiss it as nonsense.

[Old Crow]

Calvin would be proud.

[AceWrigley]

I think the travel logistics was the main reason for the timing of the move.

[GNess]

Certainly each situation and circumstances are unique, but there is a pattern here of not putting employees' well-being into the equation, normally due to a focus on the bottom line. The Twins don't have to do this - they are choosing to do things this way.

Feeling sincerely valued and respected at work may elude a lot of people, but it shouldn't be the case if the employer/organization seeks optimal performance, which typically arises when people (employees) are valued and respected.

[Schmoeman5]

18 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

I agree with the OP completely here. 

Of course you do. I disagree 

[IndianaTwin]

From the OP: They send players down on the eve of an off day and delay the promotion or recall of a replacement until after the break. Ryan Fitzgerald, Mickey Gasper, David Festa, Eiberson Castellano, and Edouard Julien have all been subject to this strategy. 

--------------------------------------

Let's take a look at this "strategy":

• Fitzgerald was sent down on the 22nd and Correa not activated until the 23rd. First, why keep Fitzgerald on the roster when he can go across town and play in St. Paul? Second, why activate Correa before he's needed on the 23rd, in case he has a setback from the injury (or has some fluke injury with a water bottle or something)?
• Gasper's first demotion was on an off day, but they recalled Lewis the same day, so that doesn't fit the "strategy." Gasper's second demotion was also on an off day, but they didn't have any choice but to send him back down the next day -- he had been called up to be the 27th man in a double header.
• First, Festa wasn't sent down on an off day. Second, he's a pitcher. If he's not going to make the next start, it makes strategic sense to send him down. They called up Gasper and had an extra position player for a day before activating Lopez in time for his start. Third, had they waited a day to send Festa in order to give him an extra day of service time/pay, they would taken the pay/service time from Gasper, so it's a wash for the budget. 
• Castellano was sent back to Philly during spring training. Not sure how this forwards the premise. 
• Julien's was demoted on an off day, but Castro was activated the same day. Doesn't fit the premise.
• And as others have said, the travel plan makes no sense to send McCusker to Seattle, just to send him back home.

It's hard for me to see a nefarious plot here. 

[Major League Ready]

Why should players demoted on an off-day be the only players paid for an extra day beyond when the team needs them?  If these guys are going to get paid for an extra day when they are not needed, shouldn't every player that's demoted get paid for an extra day?  

I wonder what happens in other businesses when a manager with spending authority routinely continues to pay for resources that are no longer needed?

[bean5302]

This article is nonsensical. It's about 1% likely for the premise to actually be accurate (the moves are made to save $4200), and making a mountain out of a molehill even if it is true. Another one of these sensationalized "OMG, this needs to stop!!!" articles so prevalent in our society. This article is similar to the article a couple weeks ago identifying the critical problem allowing unlimited DFA's for AAAA players where the writer dreamed up false hardship scenarios and evil machinations by corrupt billionaires.

[Mike Sixel]

36 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Why should players demoted on an off-day be the only players paid for an extra day beyond when the team needs them?  If these guys are going to get paid for an extra day when they are not needed, shouldn't every player that's demoted get paid for an extra day?  

I wonder what happens in other businesses when a manager with spending authority routinely continues to pay for resources that are no longer needed?

Least shocking reply ever. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

38 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Why should players demoted on an off-day be the only players paid for an extra day beyond when the team needs them?  If these guys are going to get paid for an extra day when they are not needed, shouldn't every player that's demoted get paid for an extra day?  

I wonder what happens in other businesses when a manager with spending authority routinely continues to pay for resources that are no longer needed?

Typically laid-off workers get paid for unused PTO and a severance. This does not, and should not stop the business decision to change skill sets or right-size.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

19 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Which was awesome !

Indeed it was! The OP points out that $4k is significant money to minor leaguers, not a lot to billionaires. I wonder if there’s other things happening in the background. Yes, the Pohlads have a long history of miserly penny-pinching, but they’ve also done the right thing when it matters.

[Mark G]

Your premise #4 makes me wonder how the next CBA is going to go.  Adding all MILB players to the union I assume gives them a vote; if so, they will have the numbers to affect this type of an issue, as well as others involving the ups and downs/promotions and demotions as well as MIlB salaries.  It will be interesting to keep an eye on.

Any thoughts along those lines?  Am I way off?  

[Fire Dan Gladden]

4 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

From the OP: They send players down on the eve of an off day and delay the promotion or recall of a replacement until after the break. Ryan Fitzgerald, Mickey Gasper, David Festa, Eiberson Castellano, and Edouard Julien have all been subject to this strategy. 

--------------------------------------

Let's take a look at this "strategy":

• Fitzgerald was sent down on the 22nd and Correa not activated until the 23rd. First, why keep Fitzgerald on the roster when he can go across town and play in St. Paul? Second, why activate Correa before he's needed on the 23rd, in case he has a setback from the injury (or has some fluke injury with a water bottle or something)?
• Gasper's first demotion was on an off day, but they recalled Lewis the same day, so that doesn't fit the "strategy." Gasper's second demotion was also on an off day, but they didn't have any choice but to send him back down the next day -- he had been called up to be the 27th man in a double header.
• First, Festa wasn't sent down on an off day. Second, he's a pitcher. If he's not going to make the next start, it makes strategic sense to send him down. They called up Gasper and had an extra position player for a day before activating Lopez in time for his start. Third, had they waited a day to send Festa in order to give him an extra day of service time/pay, they would taken the pay/service time from Gasper, so it's a wash for the budget. 
• Castellano was sent back to Philly during spring training. Not sure how this forwards the premise. 
• Julien's was demoted on an off day, but Castro was activated the same day. Doesn't fit the premise.
• And as others have said, the travel plan makes no sense to send McCusker to Seattle, just to send him back home.

It's hard for me to see a nefarious plot here. 

Stop bringing logic to an emotional argument.

[HerbieFan]

Cheap Pohlads.....lol