The Boston Red Sox continue to tinker with their pitching staff this offseason, acquiring left-hander Jovani Morán from the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Going the other way is the versatile Mickey Gasper, a catcher and infielder who made his MLB debut with Boston in 2023.
For the Red Sox, it’s another move aimed at rebuilding a rotation and bullpen that struggled mightily last season. The 27-year-old Morán has shown flashes of promise in parts of three big league campaigns with Minnesota, posting a 4.15 ERA and striking out 112 batters in 79 innings. He’ll compete for a spot in a wide-open Boston pitching staff.
Morán, originally a 7th-round pick by the Twins in 2015, missed all of 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery. But the Red Sox are betting on his potential, eyeing the high-octane stuff that has allowed him to hold opponents to a paltry .208 batting average in his MLB career. If healthy, Morán could provide a much-needed lefty presence.
Gasper Gives Twins Depth and Flexibility
The Twins, meanwhile, land an intriguing utility player in Gasper. The 29-year-old switch-hitter was a late-round find by the Yankees in 2018 before being plucked by Boston in the minor league portion of last year’s Rule 5 Draft. He reached the majors for the first time in ’23, appearing in 13 games for the Red Sox.
While Gasper’s MLB sample is small, his defensive versatility could prove valuable to a Twins team always on the lookout for movable chess pieces. Gasper has experience at catcher, first base, third base, and the corner outfield spots, the type of player that Twins manager Rocco Baldelli covets.
An Under-the-Radar, But Meaningful Swap
At first glance, this may seem like a minor transaction. But for two teams with very different goals, it’s a trade that makes sense on multiple levels. The last-place Red Sox are in full rebuild mode, collecting as many lottery ticket arms as possible. Morán fits that mold as a still-young southpaw with swing-and-miss stuff.
The Twins, perennial contenders in the AL Central, can afford to take a flier on Gasper. His defensive flexibility is important for a team that values having roster contingency plans. If he hits, Gasper could carve out a long-term utility role on a competitive Minnesota club.
In today’s game, you can never have enough pitching or too many options on the roster. Both the Twins and Red Sox recognize that, even with a lower-profile trade like this one.
– MLB Scout
Neither Morán nor Gasper is a household name. But for two organizations with keen eyes for talent, they represent the type of incremental improvements that add up over time. If Morán rediscovers his pre-surgery form or Gasper emerges as a trusty bench piece, this deal will be a win for all involved.
The Morán-Gasper swap won’t set the hot stove aflame. In the frenetic context of the MLB offseason, it hardly moves the needle. But these are precisely the type of subtle, purposeful moves that smart front offices make. Boston and Minnesota are both betting on their player development apparatuses to polish a pair of unheralded, but quietly promising players.
Will Morán blossom into a late-inning weapon at Fenway? Can Gasper cement himself as a Swiss Army knife for the Twins? This trade may not generate national headlines, but it looms large for two players seeking bigger and better opportunities. On the transactional margins, one team’s surplus can become another’s solution. Such is the beauty of baseball’s offseason churn, embodied in this decidedly under-the-radar deal.
