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      Cody Christie

      The Minnesota Twins created space on their 40-man roster on Wednesday morning, placing outfielder Carson McCusker on unconditional release waivers. The move comes just hours before the Rule 5 Draft, where the club is expected to make at least one selection. It is a procedural decision with immediate implications for roster construction, but it also marks the end of a unique and memorable chapter in the organization.

      McCusker’s story has been anything but conventional. He joined the Twins as a signing out of the independent leagues, a late bloomer with imposing size and raw power who needed the right environment to refine his game. Minnesota believed there was more in his swing and approach than previous evaluations suggested, and McCusker rewarded that faith with one of the better early-season performances in the system during 2025.

      At Triple-A St. Paul last spring, McCusker put together an impressive first half with a 1.048 OPS in April and a .948 OPS in May. He controlled the strike zone better than expected, posted strong on-base numbers, and showed the kind of damage potential that made him a frequent middle-of-the-order presence. His run of production pushed him firmly onto the radar for a big league opportunity, and the Twins eventually called him up during a stretch when they needed additional depth

      The opportunity, however, never fully developed. Despite earning his way to the highest level, McCusker saw limited action and never received the extended look some thought he had earned. The Twins used him primarily as a bench option and sporadic pinch hitter, a role that made it difficult for him to build rhythm or make a lasting impression. In 16 games, he went 5-for-29 with 16 strikeouts and no extra-base hits. When the roster became crowded again, he was optioned back to St. Paul and remained there for most of the second half.

      Even with minimal major league exposure, McCusker did enough within the organization to maintain interest from clubs abroad. While nothing is finalized, industry speculation suggests he will explore opportunities to play in Asia during the 2026 season. His size, power, and plate discipline make him an intriguing fit for teams in Japan or Korea, where a change of environment could offer consistent at-bats and a more defined role.

      For the Twins, Wednesday’s decision reflects the tight roster calculus that comes with balancing present depth and future investment. Opening a spot before the Rule 5 Draft signals that Minnesota sees value in adding an external player it believes can contribute in the near future.

      McCusker’s release is a reminder that player development paths are rarely linear and that opportunities often hinge on timing as much as talent. His journey from the independent leagues to the doorstep of a major league job was a success story in itself, even if the Twins chapter concludes earlier than anticipated. Now he will look for the next stage of his career while the Twins move forward into the offseason with another key decision ahead.

      Cody Christie

      David Popkins’ 2024 season in Minnesota ended with a thud, but his work in 2025 has now earned him one of baseball’s most notable coaching honors. Baseball America named Popkins its MLB Coach of the Year, highlighting a philosophy that has resonated across one of the league’s most improved offenses. For a coach who was dismissed after Minnesota’s late-season collapse, the honor marks a dramatic reversal in how his skill set is viewed across the sport.

      Baseball America emphasized that Popkins’ entire approach revolves around problem-solving. He believes that every hitter presents a unique puzzle. By identifying the underlying issue and drawing on a wide range of systems and instructors, he can craft individualized solutions. The publication credited this method with laying the foundation for Toronto’s offensive revival, noting that many players described his teaching style as both modern and deeply adaptable.

      The Twins did not get to see that evolution firsthand. Popkins was one of four coaches dismissed following Minnesota’s disappointing finish in 2024. This group also included assistant hitting coaches Derek Shomon and Rudy Hernandez, as well as assistant bench and infield coach Tony Diaz. General manager Thad Levine was also let go in the same sweep. According to reporting from The Athletic, Popkins even held early-season discussions about a contract extension, but the talks never progressed. When the offense unraveled down the stretch of an injury-riddled season, he was left as one of the clearest scapegoats.

      What happened next showed how highly the rest of the league regarded him. Popkins received calls from three teams within hours of his dismissal, and the Toronto Blue Jays moved quickly to bring him aboard. The fit proved immediate and impactful. His communication style meshed well with a clubhouse seeking a new direction after its own disappointing offensive year. Under his guidance, veterans and young players alike found renewed confidence.

      George Springer became the most prominent example. At 35 and coming off a decline in production, Springer looked rejuvenated with Popkins’ help, finishing the year with a 161 OPS+. Toronto finished the regular season third in baseball in OPS, fourth in runs scored, and fifth in xwOBA. The turnaround pushed the Blue Jays all the way to the brink of their first World Series title since 1993. Players and team officials repeatedly pointed to Popkins’ influence as a key reason for their sustained improvement.

      For the Twins, the award serves as a reminder of what might have been. For Popkins, it is proof that his approach works when given trust and time. His journey from early-season extension talks to post-collapse dismissal to industry-wide acclaim in just over a year is one of the more remarkable coaching arcs in recent memory.

      Cody Christie

      Former Twins outfielder Carson McCusker has found his next baseball home. According to Francys Romero of Beisbol FR, McCusker has signed a one year contract with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. The move comes shortly after Minnesota placed McCusker on unconditional release waivers during the Winter Meeting.

      At the time, reports indicated McCusker was expected to play in Asia in 2026, though the destination had not yet been finalized. The timing mattered for Minnesota. Releasing McCusker dropped the club’s 40-man roster count to 39 just hours before the Rule 5 draft, opening the door for activity. The Twins used that flexibility to select catcher Daniel Susac from the A’s organization and quickly flipped him to the San Francisco Giants for rookie ball catcher Miguel Caraballo.

      From the Twins’ perspective, the transaction was more about roster mechanics than performance. From McCusker’s perspective, it marked another unexpected turn in a career defined by persistence.

      McCusker will turn 28 in May and his path to the big leagues was anything but traditional. He went undrafted out of college and spent parts of the 2021 and 2022 seasons in independent ball. The Twins signed him with little fanfare, and over the next few years he steadily climbed the ladder. In 2025, that work paid off with a call to the majors.

      His time in Minnesota was brief but meaningful. McCusker appeared in 16 games and stepped to the plate 30 times, posting a .172/.200/.172 (.372) slash line. The production was below average, but simply reaching the majors represented a massive personal victory for a player who had been outside affiliated baseball not long before.

      The more compelling case for McCusker has always lived in the minors. From 2023 through 2025, he logged 1,146 plate appearances across multiple levels of the Twins system. The strikeouts were plentiful, with a 32.1 percent rate, but so was the power. McCusker launched 55 home runs and slashed .265/.335/.494 (.829), good for a 119 wRC+.

      Opportunity, however, was going to be scarce going forward. Minnesota’s outfield picture is crowded with Byron Buxton, Trevor Larnach, Matt Wallner, James Outman, Alan Roden, Austin Martin, and Kody Clemens. Top prospects Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Gabriel Gonzalez, and Hendry Mendez all played in the upper minors last season and will be on track to debut in 2026.

      By heading overseas, McCusker likely secures a stronger financial guarantee and a clearer path to regular playing time. Success in Japan could open the door to a return to North America or additional opportunities abroad. Given the route he has already taken, betting on another unconventional chapter feels entirely on brand.

       

      Cody Christie

      Miguel Sanó is headed back to professional relevance, even if it comes on the other side of the world. According to Francys Romero, the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball are finalizing a one-year deal with the former Minnesota Twins slugger, pending a physical. For a player who has spent the last few seasons bouncing on and off the margins of Major League rosters, this represents both a reset and a reward.

      Sanó has not appeared in a regular-season Major League game since being released by the Angels in July of 2024. Since then, he has returned home to the Dominican Republic, quietly rebuilding his value in winter ball. The results have been impossible to ignore. Across the most recent Dominican league season, Sanó slashed .315/.376/.663 (1.039) with nine home runs in just 24 games. That performance followed an .856 OPS campaign the previous winter, making this less of a fluke and more of a trend.

      For Twins fans, Sanó will always be a complicated figure. Signed as a teenager with generational power, he reached the big leagues quickly and delivered on that promise in bursts. He was an All-Star, posted multiple 30 home run seasons, and helped anchor lineups that regularly finished near the top of the American League in power. In just under 3,000 career plate appearances, Sanó launched 164 home runs and produced a .233/.325/.477 (.802) line with a 115 OPS+.

      The problem was never talent. Injuries derailed multiple seasons, strikeouts piled up at record-setting rates, and defensive limitations narrowed his paths to playing time. After an above-average showing in 2021, Sanó became a fringe option, appearing in just 48 total games between the Twins and Angels from 2022 through 2024. His last stint in the majors came in 28 games with Los Angeles.

      If that proves to be his final Major League chapter, Sanó still walks away with a respectable career résumé. But players do not sign seven-figure deals overseas because they are finished. They do it because someone still believes the bat can play. In this case, that belief was earned through dominance against professional pitching, not nostalgia.

      Nippon Professional Baseball has become a viable bridge back to MLB relevance for power hitters willing to adjust and prove themselves again. Sanó will be tested by a different pitching style and a more demanding daily routine. If the power carries over, the conversation changes quickly.

      Is a return to the big leagues likely? Probably not. But Miguel Sanó has made a career out of defying neat timelines. As long as the ball keeps leaving the yard, never say never.

      Cody Christie

      Joe Ryan is headed back to the international stage. The Minnesota Twins right hander will pitch for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, continuing a growing résumé that already includes Olympic experience and a rising profile within Major League Baseball.

      This will not be Ryan’s first time wearing the red white and blue. He previously represented Team USA at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, which were ultimately held in 2021 due to the pandemic. That trip came at a memorable point in his career. Ryan was still a member of the Rays organization when the Games began, and he was in Japan when the Twins acquired him in a deadline deal that sent Nelson Cruz to Tampa Bay. By the time Ryan returned stateside, he belonged to a new organization and was on the doorstep of the big leagues.

      Five years later, Ryan is no longer a prospect getting his first taste of the majors. He is an established member of the Twins rotation and one of the more recognizable arms in the American League. His selection for Team USA reflects that progression and also highlights the trust both the national team and the Twins have in his preparation.

      The 2026 World Baseball Classic is scheduled to run from March 5 through March 17 and will feature 20 teams competing across four host cities. Pool play will take place in Miami, Houston, San Juan, and Tokyo. The quarterfinals will then be split between Miami and Houston before the tournament returns to Miami for the semifinals and championship round. It will mark the sixth edition of the event, with Japan entering as the defending champions after winning the 2023 tournament.

      For Ryan to participate, the Twins must sign off on his involvement, which suggests confidence in his offseason program and overall workload heading into the 2026 season. That decision carries some added context. Ryan was a first time All Star last season after a dominant first half, but he ran into challenges as the year wore on and his performance dipped in the later months. Allowing him to pitch in meaningful games during March indicates the organization believes he can handle the ramp up and benefit from the competitive environment.

      Ryan is not the only Twin expected to be part of Team USA. Byron Buxton has also been connected to the roster, potentially giving Minnesota multiple representatives on a high profile international stage. For Ryan, the opportunity is both familiar and new, another chance to pitch in pressure situations while adding to a career that has already taken some unexpected and memorable turns.

      Cody Christie

      According to Just Baseball and Aram Leighton, the San Diego Padres have signed Jose Miranda to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training. For the Padres, it is a low-risk upside play on a hitter who not long ago looked like a reliable middle-of-the-order presence. For Miranda, it is another opportunity to prove that his best baseball is not already behind him at age 27.

      For a moment, it felt like the Twins had uncovered yet another homegrown bat. Miranda arrived in 2022 as a former second-round pick and top-100 prospect and eventually settled in after a rocky introduction to the majors. He finished his rookie season hitting .268/.325/.426 (.751) with a 116 wRC+, popping 15 home runs and 25 doubles in 483 plate appearances. 

      A shoulder injury derailed Miranda’s 2023 season almost immediately. Installed as the Opening Day third baseman, he struggled badly before undergoing surgery, finishing the year with a .211/.263/.303 (.566) line. While the injury offered some explanation, it also introduced real questions about whether Miranda’s bat would ever fully bounce back.

      In 2024, he appeared to answer some of those concerns. Miranda rebounded with a .284/.322/.441 (.763) slash line and a 112 OPS+ across 121 games. The production returned, but so did the physical issues. Repeated back injuries shortened his season and prevented him from building any real momentum heading into the following year.

      Then came 2025, when everything unraveled. Miranda made the Opening Day roster but quickly looked overwhelmed. Through 12 games, he hit just .167 with 13 strikeouts in 36 plate appearances. His timing was off, the quality of contact evaporated, and the Twins sent him back to St. Paul. Things only worsened there. After a freak accident while carrying bottled water, Miranda struggled throughout the year, slashing .195/.272/.296 (.569) in 90 games with the Saints. His once reliable bat to ball skills disappeared as he chased pitches and failed to drive mistakes.

      It was a shocking fall for a player who had looked like one of the Twins most dependable hitters just a year earlier. Miranda’s four year run in Minnesota ended with a .263 average, 28 home runs, and a 101 OPS+. He remains a bat first corner player with limited defensive value and pronounced reverse splits, but the talent has not vanished entirely.

      For the Padres, this is a simple gamble. If Miranda can rediscover even a portion of his former self, the reward could be meaningful. If not, the cost is minimal.

      Seth Stohs

      On X/Twitter, Danny Gallagher describes himself as an Expos historian with 11 books about the franchise. 

      On Friday morning, he posted a tweet about former Twins closer Jeff Reardon. The tweet shows a picture of the 70-year-old following the surgery. He's still got his signature beard. He has his blanket or robe on but his chest. You can see the large incision down the center of his chest and electrodes stuck in various places around his chest. I won't show that photo here as I would imagine not everyone would want to see it. (Gallagher notes in a subsequent tweet that the photo came from Reardon's Facebook page). 

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      Reardon spent three of his 16 major league seasons with the Minnesota Twins. He joined the team right before the start of the 1987 season. Six weeks into his Twins career, he had a 10.80 ERA. However, over the remainder of the season, he had a 3.03 ERA. Overall, he went 8-8 with a 4.48 ERA and 31 saves. 

      He pitched in four World Series games that season and gave up no runs over 5 2/3 innings. In Game 7, Frank Viola gave up two runs in the second inning. That was it. He gave up two runs on six hits over eight innings. But when the Twins had a 4-2 lead over the Cardinals after eight innings Viola had thrown 95 pitches, and a case could be made for him to go out for the ninth. However, Tom Kelly later said that they were going to do what they did all year which was go to Reardon in that situation. Reardon got Tom Herr to fly out to centerfield. Curt Ford pinch hit and popped up to third base. And we all love seeing Willie McGee grounding to Gary Gaetti at third base. The Gold Glove winner threw across the diamond to Kent Hrbek. The Twins were World Champions. The image of Hrbek leaping into the air, and the bench racing out to the middle of the diamond where teammates embraced in celebration. 

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      Reardon spent two more seasons with the Twins. In 1988, he was at his best and made an All-Star appearance. He went 2-4 with a 2.47 ERA and had 42 saves. In 1989, he went 5-4 with a 4.07 ERA and 31 saves. 

      The Terminator, as he was affectionately nicknamed, made his big-league debut with the Mets in 1979. He was traded to the Expos during the shortened 1981 season. He was an All Star for Montreal in 1985 and 1986. In February of 1987, he came to the Twins with catcher Tom Nieto in exchange for LHPs Neal Heaton and Yorkis Perez, RHP Al Cardwood, and former first-round pick catcher Jeff Reed.

      Following the 1989 season, he became a free agent and signed a four-year contract with the Red Sox and made one All-Star appearance for Boston. In August of 1992, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves. 

      Then things got weird for The Bearded One. In 1993, he signed with the Reds. In 1994, he signed with the New York Yankees. Both teams did not allow players to have beards, so Reardon shaved and was left with only his mustache. 

      When he retired in 1994, Reardon was the All-Time leader with 367 Saves. 

      Join us in wishing Jeff Reardon good health following his quadruple bypass surgery. 

       

      © RVR Photos-Imagn Images (photo of Reardon)

       

      Seth Stohs

      Ryan Daniels, the Twins 11th round pick in 2025 out of UConn, has decided to retire from the game of baseball. As @Jamie Cameron wrote at Limestone Pipeline, Daniels has a history of hip injuries and surgeries. 

      Before joining the Huskies, Daniels was a four-year letterwinner in baseball at St. Paul Catholic in Bristol, Connecticut. He was twice named an All-State player. Upon graduation, he made a 44-mile drive from Bristol to Storrs. 

      He made 25 starts and played in 42 games as a freshman in 2023. He hit .273/.401/.409 (.810) with eight doubles, two triples and a home run. He also had 16 steals in 17 attempts. 

      In 2024, he was limited to just 20 games (18 starts) because he had season-ending hip surgery. 

      He came back at full strength in 2025 and had an incredible season. He started 53 of the 54 games he played. He hit .365/.476/.744 (1.220) with 15 doubles, four triples, 18 home runs and 75 RBI. He was named the BIG EAST Player of the Year, first-team all-conference, and was named second-team All American by a few outlets. 

      The Twins made him their 11th-round pick in July and signed him with a $150,000. 

      Unfortunately, he played in two games for the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels and went on the Injured List with a hip injury. In mid-December, he made the decision to retire from baseball. 

      Best wishes, Ryan, in whatever is next for you! 

      Seth Stohs

      According to his Twitter profile, the Twins have hired Ozney Guillen as a minor-league hitting coach. On his LinkedIn page, Guillen wrote, "I'm excited and grateful to share that I've accepted a position as a Minor League Hitting Coach with the Minnesota Twins organization. Thankful for the opportunity and for everyone who has supported and believed in me along the way. I'm looking forward to continuing to learn, grow, and help develop players at the next level. Ready to get to work." 

      La Vida Baseball.  That includes the administrators, the coordinators, and of course, the minor-league coaching and managing assignments. We don't know what level Guillen will be coaching, but Ozney's track record is pretty impressive. 

      But let's go back a little bit. Ozney Guillen is the youngest of White Sox legend Ozzie Guillen's three sons. He just turned 34 years old this week.

      Most Twins fans remember Ozzie Guillen as the White Sox manager from 2004 through 2011. Over that stretch, he had a record of 678-617 (.524). His club finished second in the division twice, and they won the AL Central in 2005 and 2008. That 2005 team went 11-1 in the playoffs and became World Series champions. He led the White Sox to two 90-win seasons, but to four 88+ win seasons.

      And, of course, there was the time in 2006 when Ozzie Guillen said of the Twins, "All those piranhas - blooper here, blooper here, beat out a ground ball, hit a home run, they're up by four. They get up by four with that bullpen? See you at the national anthem tomorrow. When I sit down and look at the lineup, give me the New York Yankees. Give me those guys because they've got holes. You can pitch around them, you can pitch to them. These little guys? (Luis) Casillo and all of them? People worry about the catcher, what's his name, Mauer? Fine, yeah, a good hitter, but worry about the little guys, they're on base all the time." 

      And at that time, there truly was a rivalry between the Twins and the White Sox. During that same stretch between 2004 and 2011, Ron Gardenhire led the Twins to four division titles and finished second one other time. He had a record of 682-616 (.525), and that's counting a 99-loss 2011 season. There were moments such as Torii Hunter slamming into Jamie Burke, a move that Guillen praised later that night. In Game 163 of the 2008 season, White Sox slugger Jim Thome homered in the 7th inning of what turned into a 1-0 ballgame that sent the White Sox to the playoffs. Then, while only an August walk-off, Twins slugger Jim Thome hit a monster home run off his former teammates to add to the Twins division lead. 

      The Guillen-Gardenhire years were so fun. That was a true rivalry, but it was a rivalry based on respect. Guillen wasn't bashing the Twins hitters for being 'wimpy.' Instead, he was praising the team for battling every pitch, putting the ball in play, hustling on everything. Guys like Luis Castillo, Jason Bartlett, Nick Punto and Jason Tyner were unsung heroes on the 2006 team in which Justin Morneau won the MVP, Joe Mauer won his first batting title, Torii Hunter's 31 homers were second to Morneau's, and Michael Cuddyer's 109 RBI was behind only the Canadian MVP. Both teams usually had strong hitters, good overall hitters, strong starting pitching, and dominant bullpens. Both managers were fiery, and in the days before replay, they were guys whose players knew they had their backs. Those were the days! Then again, Guillen referred to the 99-loss 2011 Twins hitters as "sardines", and in 2021, he called the Twins "guppies." 

      By the way, some of us that are my age and older are also likely to remember him as a really solid big-league shortstop over his 16-season career. He broke into the big leagues as a 21-year-old in 1985 and was named Rookie of the Year. He was a three-time All-Star and won a Gold Glove. He spent 13 seasons with the White Sox and then played with the Orioles, Braves and Rays over the final three seasons of his playing career (2000). 

      Alright, let's get back to the Twins new player development hire, Ozney Guillen. 

      Eldest son, Ozzie Jr., hosted a radio show in Chicago for four-plus seasons during his dad's managerial tenure. He also worked as a translator for the White Sox and was the team's Spanish Radio Broadcaster. He fulfilled the same role with the Chicago Bulls for a year. He has worked in the public sector for about the past 15 years. 

      Middle son, Oney, has worked for a few companies since he finished college a dozen years ago. He spent some time playing baseball. He was the White Sox 36th round pick in 2007 out of North Park University in Chicago. He played that summer and in 2008. He played 17 games in Class A ball and actually got one game in for the Sox Triple-A affiliate in Charlotte. He went 1-for-3 with a double in the one game he played. Ozzie Jr and Oney had a baseball podcast/show called Being Guillen, or La Vida Baseball.  

      Ozney is the son that, at least to this point, has made a career in baseball. He played his high school baseball at Monsignor Edward Pace High School in Miami Gardens, Florida, where he was a teammate of former Twins pitcher (and minor league outfielder too) Dereck Rodriguez. Ozney was the 22nd round pick of the White Sox in 2010. Instead of signing, he went to Miami-Dade College where he would have played with the likes of former Twins pitcher Jharel Cotton, long-time big-league catcher Victor Caratini, 

      After his college eligibility ended, he took a tour around various independent baseball leagues. He spent 2014 and 2015 in the Frontier League. In 2016, he played for Sioux Falls in the American Association. In 2017 and 2018, he played in the Atlantic League. He also played briefly in the Canadian-American Association. He spent three winters playing in Venezuela for Tiburones de La Guaira. He spent a lot of time working with their Baseball Operations department, player development and even signing players.   

      He returned to school, now at St. Thomas University in Miami where he earned his Bachelor of Business.  Administration and Sports Administration. All the while, he has worked in a variety of roles and jobs in baseball.

      Since he stopped playing, he has been a minor-league manager, a hitting instructor, worked for a sports management agency, earned a degree, was an assistant coach in college, has been a manager and general manager in Colombia. 

      Since last June, he has taken on new roles for the team in Colombia, joined Tigres de Aragua as a third base coach and Quality Control Coach. And, last month, he joined the Twins organization full time. 

      He has a really solid resume, but he's also got relationships around the game, in affiliated ball, in independent leagues, and throughout central and South America. He is bilingual which is clearly helpful. It will be fun to see how the Twins utilize him within the organization since he's got such a variety of experiences in and around the game. 

       

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