The Red Sox and Twins have lined up on a Christmas Eve trade that will see left-hander Jovani Moran head to Boston in exchange for catcher/first baseman Mickey Gasper. Hunter Noll of Beyond The Monster was the first to report the deal, and both teams have officially announced the trade.
Moran underwent Tommy John surgery last offseason, leading to the Twins to non-tender him before re-signing the southpaw to another minor league deal. Moran naturally didn’t pitch at all in 2024 while rehabbing, and he’ll now look to return to the mound in Boston, as the 27-year-old is changing organizations for the first time in his career.
A seventh-round pick for the Twins in the 2015 draft, Moran also missed full minor league seasons in 2016 (due to injury) and in 2020 (the pandemic-canceled season). Moran finally made his MLB debut in the form of eight innings for the Twins in 2021, and he then seemingly broke out with a 2.21 ERA over 40 2/3 relief innings for Minnesota in 2022. Moran supported that strong ERA with a 32.9% strikeout rate and 48.9% grounder rate, yet both his peripherals and his bottom-line results went backwards the next year.
Moran had a 5.31 ERA, 41.9% grounder rate, and 26.1% strikeout rate in 42 1/3 frames in 2023, and after being optioned to Triple-A at the start of his August, his season was prematurely ended by a forearm strain in September that led to his eventual TJ surgery.
Despite the lack of a big fastball, Moran’s ability to miss bats and his knack for inducing grounders has helped him achieve success in the minors and (in limited fashion) at the big league level. Control is his biggest question mark, as Moran has a 13.5% walk rate over his 91 career MLB innings and a 12.36BB% in 257 2/3 innings of minor league ball.
Moran joins Aroldis Chapman and Justin Wilson as left-handed additions to the Red Sox bullpen mix this offseason, though Moran is more of a depth option at this point depending on his health and his form after the long layoff. While he probably won’t be ready for the Opening Day roster, some time in the minors might help Moran fully recover and get some innings under his belt before the Red Sox consider him for any possible role in their big league bullpen.
The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman writes that Moran received some attention from teams heading into the Rule 5 Draft, and in fact it was Gasper who came to the Red Sox from the Yankees organization in the minor league version of the 2023 Rule R5. The selection resulted in Gasper’s first taste of big league action, though he didn’t record a hit in his 23 plate appearances over 13 games for the Sox this season.
Gasper played first and second base during his brief time in the Show, but the majority of his career has come behind the plate. Gasper’s ability to both catch and play other positions (primarily first and second, with a handful of games as a third baseman and left fielder) adds to his versatility, not to mention his switch-hitting bat. This creates a possible opening for Gasper to win a bench job in Minnesota, as a third catcher and general utilityman behind the Twins’ catching tandem of Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vazquez. It remains to be seen if the Twins will be able to trade Vazquez and get any of his contract off the books, yet if so, Gasper could be a candidate as Jeffers’ backup.
Gasper was a 27th-round pick for the Yankees in the 2018 draft, but he carved a path for himself through New York’s farm system with some strong numbers at every step of the minor league ladder. Over an even 1600 minor league PA, Gasper has hit .275/.392/.449 with 48 homers, and those numbers include nine home runs and a .317/.422/.498 slash line in 282 PA at the Triple-A level.
These are baseball players?
They are fashion designers along with Bligh Madris and Pierre Cordan.
It is better for him there are no updates about Socrates Brito’s next contract…
You’re on the wrong website.
40 man roster move to open a spot for Walker B?
This is adding a player to the 40 man, not removing one
Gasper was on the RS 40 man so he is removed. Question is, does Jovani go on the RS 40 man roster as they need a space for Walker B. I am thinking he wasn’t but I’ll look into it.
I don’t believe that Moran was on the Twins’ 40-man roster, given the mention that he drew interest in the rule 5 draft. So he’ll be a non-roster invitee to ST.
Moran is not on the 40 after being non tendered then resigning on a minors deal
Soxshort – You are correct. Gasper was the trade to open the spot for Walker Buehler. The other 40-man options to be traded were Sogard and Shugart, who will be moved if more free agents are signed, or trade acquisitions are acquired not using current 40-man players.
Gasper was not looked at as a back up catching option for the Red Sox, and there are other options for utility players with Boston who are more better both offensively and defensively.
Bad luck to trade WB Mason on Christmas Eve.
Another Red Sox curse coming on?
Have Tommy John will get traded – to Boston!!
Liked Gasper, but he was blocked all over. Welcome to Boston Mr Moran.
More like welcome to Worcester Mr. Moran.
Dolla 25 pop
That’s a nice buy low pickup for Boston. Gasper hit well last year but he’s pretty much a 29 year old non-prospect.
Hopefully that post is sarcasm…..surprised they both are actually in baseball….let alone taking up a spot on a 40 man roster……
Moran is not taking up a spot on the 40 man roster. They cleared a spot on the 40 man for Buehler and picked up some AAA depth in the process.
What
“nice buy low for Boston”
Statement of the off-season.
He’s a ground ball inducer. You really want that with Boston’s Swiss cheese infield?
One of the few fun parts of last season for Sox fans was the anticipation of seeing Gaspar’s first mlb hit. And much like joy in general, it eluded us.
You can’t have someone named after Mickey Mantle playing in Boston. That’s sacrilegious.
mets – So true! The whole situation was messed up, his parents huge Yankees fans living in New Hampshire. So sad how they kept traveling from city to city, attending every game with the hope he’d get a hit. And he never did.
What if he was named after former Twin Mickey Hatcher?
Moran is a great player! Loved him in Minnesota! He will be a nice addition for Boston. Twins have no catching depth whatsoever and will probably get rid of Vasquez. Guessing Gasper will back up Jeffers or start in AAA.
Seriously…regarding Moran being a great player….Minny must have very low expectations….this guy has a 5.31 ERA……come on….guess you’re going to claim he ran into bad luck right.
Gasper has to start on the 26 man roster to begin the season, he’s a rule 5 pick
Gasper was taken in the minor league phase of the Rule 5, so that never applied to him.
Doh, that’s what I get for skimming
Allin – You are correct (like usual). Gasper was selected by the Red Sox in the minor leagues phase of the Rule 5 draft in 2023, so he was NOT required to spend the entire season on the MLB Red Sox roster, however, Gasper was options in 2021, 2023 by the Yankees, and 2024 by the Red Sox. This means he would need to stay on the MLB Twins 26-man roster or be exposed to waviers to be sent to AAA Twins. If the Twins traded for him, I assume he will be staying in the MLB Twins roster.
nope. gasper made his mlb debut in 2024 so he has options for 2025 and 2026.
Hed – That is not correct. Bryan Mata used all three options without ever making a majority league appearance. This is not common, but is accurate.
November 2023 – Wikelman Gonzalez and Luis Perales were added to the Red Sox 40-man roster as they were Rule 5 eligible. Neither player was on the MLB roster at all in 2024, both used an option. Luis Perales is now recovering from TJ, and will use his second option in 2025.
Options have to do with how long a player spends in the minors once added to the 40-man roster (not whether a player goes up to the MLB team. Once Chris Sale was added to the 40-man roster snd played in the MLB, he never spent time in the AAA except on rehab assignments. A player can start the year on a MLB roster and be optioned for something like two weeks, but if he is recalled, and does not exceed the number of days in the minors, will not butn the option.
Chris Sale would have three remaining options, as he never was sent down, so he never burned ANY options. All player are no longer ‘optionable’ once they hit MLB service time limit, which I believe is 5 years, then all remaining option are canceled.
Red Sox also have no catching depth so…..
Glad they offloaded the payroll they needed to in order to lift the burden off of the poor, poor Pohlads.
seriously, Red Sox- what the HELL? enough with all of these reclamation projects already.
They traded Mickey Gaspar for him. And you’re mad.
He’s not mad about the trade, he’s mad about “progress.”
Well, he’s talking about the trade. So, you know.
I coined the name. I think all of their deals this year has been a TJ project
Yes…al those rumors spun by writers regarding the Red Sox being in on this player and that player….serious for Soto….aside from Buehler, they’ve done very little……..
Rocky, I guess the biggest trade so far doesn’t count. Also, sometimes waiting and you lose out but other times you win. The Sox waited out JDM in 18 and it worked. I’d prefer a trade with St. Louis because of the years needed to likely sign Bregman but if waiting works out, I won’t complain.
Sure it counts, but just as with the Toronto Blue Jays, supposedly Boston was in on every player….maybe just tired of the rumors…hope Crochet works out…a
Have you heard of Crochet?
No?
Except the e huge trade for Crochet.
Its a huge trade for Boston fans….less so for the rest of the league….still doesn’t change my comment though regarding Soto
Yes, huge trade for Crochet, who pitched one good half of baseball lol
Aside from a bad April and a two starts after the ASG, I’d say Crochet pitched decent. Allowing 7 ER against the Cubs was his worst game. After that, Chicago had him on a leash.
Schill – They had him on a leash to preserve his trade value, because he was not pitching well and they were afraid of another stint on the IL.
He had a lot more bad starts than what you mention.
April 13 Reds
April 19 Phillies
April 24 Twins
June 19 Astros
July 19 Marlins
July 23 Rangers
July 28 Mariners
Aug 9 Cubs
Aug 21 Giants
Sep 7 Red Sox
That’s 10 bad of his 31 starts (not counting the 4-pitch rainout).
It’s absolutely amazing how much the Red Sox gave up for a guy with only 14 good career starts of at least 5 innings. Red Sox Nation is well justified in being very nervous about this trade.
June 19th he pitched a quality start (6IP, 3ER). July 19th, he didnt pitch according to ESPN game log. July 23 4IP and 2ER with 7K is a bad game? I included a few starts after the ASB,so his lousy games where 4+ ER were included in that as well as a bad April.
He’s proven his potential in the majors. Can you say that about any of the prospects given?
The All-star game, generally the “half way point” was July 16th.
July 23rd vs Seattle.3IP 3ER(5 runs)
Aug 3 vs MIN 4IP 1ER but 4 walks.
Aug 9 vs CHC 2.1IP 7ER
Sept 7th vs BOS 2.0IP 4ER
Handful of 4IP 2ER outings as well. If he was dominating these outings then sure. But in shortened outings he was getting shelled.
His WHIP went from 0.950 to 1.397.
First half: 107.1IP 10HR allowed. 23 walks
Second Half: 38.2IP 8HR 10 walks
He was showing signs of fatigue, which happens to all SO. But guys who are aces find ways to still have quality outings.
Crochet has proven he can pitch one great half season as a starter. He has not proven that he can be a starter, throw 30+ games, 6ish IP per game.
Will he be able to? Maybe. But it’s very, very risky given his previous workload and injury history.
146 IP, 209 Ks and a 1.068 WHIP in his first year as a true starter screams high potential. The BoSox gave up prospects, top prospects, just as they did for Sale. Did those prospects turn out to be anything special? I don’t see teams chomping at the bit to sign Moncada.
Not many pitchers these days will turn in 6+ inning every start. Blake Snell for instance, pitched 180 innings in both his Cy Young winning seasons and for the 2024 season only 9 pitchers went over 190 innings.
Blake Snell pitched 34 more innings than Crochet then.
And you’re right, not many pitchers do that. That’s what you expect out of your ace though. That’s the role that Crochet is stepping into. He’s the ace.
Prior to this year, Cole pitched 200+ innings the two previous seasons. Nola 190+ each of the last 3 season, 180 four seasons ago. Buehler in 2021 pitched 207.
That is the workload the Red Sox need from an ace. Not s guy who can pitch a good first half and then a abysmal second half.
Can he put it together? Sure. Am I confident he can? No way. Will we see first half Crochet or second half Crochet to start 2025?
And yes, prospects are prospects. They don’t always work out. But what are the Red Sox plans at C now? Wong isn’t a great option and Teel was going to be the long term answer.
The difference between Snell and Crochet is the fact Snell was groomed as a starter. It’s like lets not give Crochet a chance. Although he had the highest strikeout rate (by a lot) and the 12th lowest walk rate. If the White Sox weren’t so statistically bad defensively, he probably, no, he would of had a lower ERA. Pitching for a team that had no desire to win probably played a part in Crochet’s overall effort.
Wasn’t the focus at the start of the off-season the rotation and bullpen? When did it all of a sudden become “Red Sox need a catcher!”? They have four prospects in their top five that are all Shortstops (Campbell being an exception). Trade one… for a catcher.
You’re right, Snell was brought up as a starter. Crochet has never shown he can handle a starters workload, already had TJ, and fell off hard in the second half of his first season as a starter. All things that are worrisome for an ace.
And this whole “oh he was playing for the CWS, so he wasn’t trying” is just BS. He knew he was getting traded, the second half should have been treated as an audition so he goes to the best possivle team when traded. Show he can actually be healthy and pitch well in the second half and more, better teams are interested.
And the focus was rotation and bullpen. The focus became Red Sox need a catcher when they traded their potential long term answer at catcher (and really the only good one in their farm system) for a pitcher who had one great half season starting
I don’t understand fans that lose the $chitt every time we make a minor league move.
But even worse, smkelly losing his $chitt over a guy with -0- career hits.
Joe – correct! Gasper has zero paths to playing time in Boston. He is NOT looked at as a backup catcher as his playing time was at 1B and 2B in 2024, and there are way better options there in 2025…Grissom, Kristen Campbell, David Hamilton, Ceddane Rafaela, Romy Gonzalez, Triston Casas,….
joebrady- my concerns are not with this trade per se, but with the fact that many of the moves the Sox have made in the last few seasons- major or minor league signings- have been for guys recovering or have just recovered from major surgeries. Hendriks, Giolito, Crochet, Sandoval, Moran. I hope they all pan out, but this is a team with money to spend who are consistently picking up guys on the cheap. Maybe they are holding out to sign someone like Bregman (not counting on it) or waiting to see if Burnes’ market dries up a bit and his price drops accordingly (also not counting on it). They need another front line starter, so we’ll see.
Gasper will re-appear as a coach or manager. The sox brought him up late so he could tell his grandchildren he was in fact a major league ballplayer.
Tommy John. do we see a pattern here?
Moran was on a minor league deal with Minnesota, so moving Gasper clears a 40 man spot for Buehler, per the Red Sox post the 40 man is at 39 now after the deal
What an Earth shattering move we have on the Eve of Christmas! This move will most likely have the Twins playing the Red Sox in the AL pennant race this fall. Also, this salary dump for the Twins will help get the Pohlads out of the poor house.
Call a relative
Why wait? Batting first in spring training Gaspar for MN, pitching? Moran for the Sox. Better see it then because neither will be on opening day rosters.
twinky
Also, this salary dump for the Twins will help get the Pohlads out of the poor house.
==============================
Kindly explain how you think this is a salary dump?
Make sure to hold on to your toupee while the WHOOOSH flies over your head, Joe.
I didn’t get that???
Another misfit toy. Let’s hope it works out
Where’s my Fever Pitch Guy rant about the Sox getting another rehabbing reclamation pitcher? Am *I* supposed to write it, I don’t have time for that.
(If you see this, FPG, it’s meant in good humor, happy holidays.)
Meow – Merry Christmas my friend!
FTR I’m fine with this trade, gave up nothing.
I feel similarly about it, but the thought made me laugh yesterday. Merry Christmas!
Twins GM said, “Your cellphone is breaking up, did you say Duran or Moran?”
Eh, it’s the Red Sox so they probably said Moran
I’m thinking of having TJ this year. Surely the Sox could use a 60 year old rehabbing, junk baller lefty who couldn’t break 70mph on his best day! And I’m cheap! Right in their wheelhouse.
Not only that but you’d get a two year deal. Walker Buehler only got one year
They always say you can never have too much pitching. See how he does in AAA and he may end up in the bullpen at some point this year. Unfortunately not the Christmas present I was hoping the Red Sox would put under my tree this year. Don’t remember them ever having a Jovani, could be fun to hear Sox fans chanting that name.
What a steal!
Wow! The Red Sox are really making moves!
Wow! Someone who doesn’t know that every team makes moves likes this!
Jeez! Breslow is becoming like Trent Baalke of the 49ers when he drafted all the ACL injured players through the years. Well, none of those ACL players ever panned out. Breslow acts as though we are paupers of baseball in picking up injured players.
Yeah, That’s EXACTLY how Breslow acts. Thanks for summing it up so succinctly.
Another wounded duck, does Breslow have an aversion to healthy pitchers?
Do you have an aversion to writing the exact same thing 25 other people did?
I don’t read every post before I post. BTW, you are far from the goat, unless you are referring to the animal. and even then you come up short.
what was the return you were expecting to get from a 29 year old AAAA player?
assuming roster space move for both sides but definitely more upside for boston could be a sneaky-good depth move
Trade works well for both teams. Moran could be back pen arm but Twins could never get his control worked out. Pick up a nice depth piece.
Kinda crazy he never got a hit with us
Fenway – I’m rooting for him to break Lester’s MLB record for consecutive hitless AB’s to start a career.
Red Sox
Orioles
Yankees
Rays
Jays
should be a fun division race. depending on health and development of young players there’s a wide range of outcomes for the top 3 teams
Dasit – I agree. The Yankees could win over 100, Baltimore in the mid 90s, and the other three will struggle to break 81.
Maybe you and your buddy have had enough spiked egg nog now…better call an Uber when homeward bound…..
More recliminaton projects yay….
I am happy that Boston keeps adding to the pitching staff.Nobody was happy with last years staff.I am not worried with injuries as every pitcher except Nolan Ryan gets injured.
Moran will be an interesting option at some point. He and Sandoval will be moved to the 60 day IL as soon as they allowed to
Gasper has the same amount of hits in MLB as I do zero….
If they hit his splitter he’s screwed
Mickey Gasper could have progressed and became a Hall of Famer.What is our GM doing signing a 27 year old.Nobody has heard of him so he can’t possible be a success.
Just like Tanner Scott 3 years ago.
Gasper’s contributions were muted and understated, but noticeable. He would be quite quiet as a field mouse, then let out a pshaw or other expression of incredulity or befuddlement
The problem I have is that he always seems surprised.
I like the trade. Sox gave up nothing and got a potential lefty bullpen arm.
More to come…nothing major, just flipping a few pieces so they can say they did something!!
Being linked to names like: Arenado, Bregman, Hernandez, Burnes, Flaherty, Scott (to name a few) but nothing major on the front has happened besides a trade w/ the WS.
Step up or step out!!
$21M for Buehler., $10M for Chapman.
They need a right handed power bat! Hernandez is still not signed and he would rake at Fenway. Wife got us 4 tickets to Sox game on our trip from Maine back to Alasaka. Last time I went it was Oil Can Boyd Pitching!
Joe Brady – So the $300 Million a year profitable team spent $31 Million and in your opinion that is enough? Why would that be enough?
Shouldn’t we do both sides of the ledger?
Kenley Jansen – $16 Million reduction in 2025
Chris Sale – $17 Million reduction in 2025 since it’s not owed like last year
That alone is $33Million of reductions and you pointed out $31 Million of additions.
What’s your point? Is spending $2 Million less what you call stepping up?
Red Sox pen is complete. A WS is assured. Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah.
Breslow can rest on his laurels now.
Does anyone else think it would be a good idea to put a green tent in the bullpen for the pitching staff? That way just like in football, we are prepared to address the injuries immediately?
The home plate umpire can then announce the results of the examination in the green tent to keep the fans informed!!! hahaha
Is Breslow going through some weird IL ENVY thing? I can’t remember any GM being so focus on miraculous come backs.
The tent is blue in football
I don’t see how this can be anything for Breslow. He turned a guy that was going to get dfa into an arm that can be stashed in AAA with big league experience and some success and not on the 40 man good job Breslow.
Bill Belichick’s DO YOUR JOB quote works for Breslow.
He got a pitcher in Giolito who got two years of pay for about 4 months of service. That’s not doing his job.
Then he did the same for Sandoval so now if Giolito or Sandoval actually play well in their 2nd year they will have been rehabbed by Boston and will make their future big money elsewhere or they’ll suck and have played four bad months for 2 years pay. Either way, massive mistake by Breslow. He’s not doing his job.
Buehler gets to rehab with Boston too for a huge payday. If he’s successful he’ll pitch elsewhere in 2026 and if he sucks we wasted the equivalent of a qualifying offer. That’s not a good example of Breslow doing his job.
To even address his dumpster diving like his latest deal and to suggest he’s doing his job by wading in the minutia is disrespecting the job of GM. When you have a .500 team and you spent December looking for trash to put in AAA so your roster is filled but not with talent is pathetic. DO YOUR JOB BRESLOW!!!!
There is a time to deal with scraps and it’s not December.
It’s so hard to get some people to put things into perspective!!!
Lets say we measure total talent as being a number like 100.
The deal conducted traded a guy with no value for a guy with a value below one and close to zero. It’s hard to applaud a guy who is supposed to be adding talent that raises the 100 to 150 when he does meaningless deals like this one. The guy acquired doesn’t even round the add up to 1.0. Minutia is the most fitting description of these dumpster dives.
Why are we wasting time debating whether this meaningless deal was good or bad? It was simply insignificant!!!
Breslow refocus on things that matter and DO YOUR JOB!!!!!
Saga- It sure would be nice if our POBO had an owner like Cohen wouldn’t it? I think most people knew that in order for Boston to compete they needed upgraded pitching both in the rotation and in the pen. In a perfect world they go out and sign both Burnes, Fried and Scott get a few other pieces to fill in call it an off-season and with good health March back to October baseball. Alas we have Henry and FSG as ownership and they seem to be allergic to big contracts on pitchers 30 and over. We all know that those type of contracts are likely to finish poorly but if you want the true stalwart pitchers you are going to have to take a chance.
It appears to me that Breslow is working under this mandate. He knew that Boston had to get better in the rotation to compete so he went out and traded prospects for the perceived best chance at a tor stud. There is no question Crochet raises the bar this season and next if healthy. It remains to be seen if ownership green-lights an extension for Crochet but that is out of Breslow’s hands it’s an ownership decision. There is no question signing Buehler raises the bar of the rotation this season. So what if it’s only one season it’s obvious ownership isn’t signing pitchers to long term contracts especially those that are 30 or over. It sounds like Breslow wanted a two year deal but Buehler was the one to say no he wanted a one year prove it deal. So what if he’s one and done if he does leave it means he had a great season probably and with Crochet the staff ceiling is significantly raised.
The point is Breslow appears to be working within the parameters he was given by ownership. He’s getting creative. The Red Sox as constructed were not an October threat barring huge leaps by Bello and Crawford. Now the upside in the rotation is much higher he has cracked open a competitive window a year earlier than I believe it would have otherwise been.
The reason I thought this was a shrewd move in this article he took a dfa guy and added an arm that has had success in the big leagues and is off the 40 man. It’s what Breslow’s doing he’s adding arms to the system. It was a good shrewd move. Is it probably inconsequential yea probably but so what he turned a dfa into a chance.
Red Sox fans are unbelievable they are upset when nothing is done and then they are upset when a guy comes in sees an issue tries to address it under the parameters that ownership is giving them. I say there is no question that the upside of this team is much higher then last years team. Keep up the good work Breslow and who knows maybe Burnes market falls apart and he has to take a short term high asset deal that would be something ownership would probably bite on. The off-season isn’t over yet but no question Breslow is doing his job!
Bruin1012 – $100Million for 3 pitchers throwing the equivalent of 1 season of games rather than signing a blue chip to the $33.3 Million equivalent for 3 years?
He’s not doing his job well enough. The proof will be in the wins in 2025. 81 is not a better season, 82 to 90 is not a significant improvement considering the money wasted and the players wasted to gain just a couple of wins.
Saga… I agree 100%
It is time for him to step up & do his job by getting talent or building it to put on the field. These meaningless trades or signings that have been done mean ZERO, ZILCH. Crochet is a (+) but that is it.
Fed up with the BS here…the RS are supposed to be a “big deal” team that competes every year…not a team that is just lucky to be 500 or maybe a game or 2 better. WTH!?!