Twins add to depth with deal for versatile Gasper

The Twins made a Christmas Eve move to add to their utility depth with the acquisition of the multipositional Mickey Gasper from the Red Sox in a trade for left-handed reliever Jovani Moran, who missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

While not a major move, the 29-year-old Gasper will join the Twins’ 40-man roster as another infield option with some experience at catcher, following a season during which he made his Major League debut with Boston and went 0-for-18 with four walks while playing second base, first base and designated hitter.

Gasper was a 27th-round Draft selection by the Yankees in 2018 and played primarily first base and catcher in the Minors. He has a career .841 OPS in the Minor Leagues with strong contact ability and most recently hit .328/.439/.531 in 92 games with Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester in 2024.

TRADE DETAILS
Twins receive: UTIL Mickey Gasper
Red Sox receive: LHP Jovani Moran

It’s ultimately unclear whether he’ll factor into the Twins’ roster picture, but first-base depth is an area of need for the organization, with Jose Miranda and Edouard Julien currently lined up to platoon at the position assuming they don’t make an external acquisition.

Because Carlos Santana signed with the Guardians on Tuesday, what appeared the neatest possible external fit at first base is no longer on the table -- and in terms of internal options, onetime top-30 prospect Yunior Severino does not seem to factor into the Twins’ big league plans despite his demonstrated power in the Minors.

Moran’s departure ultimately leaves bigger questions in the Twins’ left-handed relief group, which currently does not have any proven options following Caleb Thielbar’s departure in free agency following the ‘24 season.

Though Kody Funderburk pitched well in the Minors, he has pitched to a 5.01 ERA in 38 big league appearances across parts of two seasons, and Brent Headrick -- who thus far has served only as a long relief swingman and depth starting option -- is the only other left-handed pitcher on the 40-man roster.

Moran was no sure option, either, even before his surgery. Though his name had popped up as part of Rule 5 Draft rumors (the Twins removed him from their 40-man roster and re-signed him to a Minors deal following the procedure), his continued struggles with control limited him to a 4.15 ERA with 112 strikeouts and 52 walks in 91 innings across parts of three seasons.

Despite the success of Moran’s go-to changeup -- a true out pitch -- his control struggles had prevented him from taking the next step into a consistent leverage role, even following a successful 2022 in which he posted a 2.21 ERA and 1.06 WHIP.