The Twins have inked Daniel Gossett to a minor league contract, according to the team’s transactions log at MLB.com. It’s unclear whether the 29-year-old will receive an invitation to big league Spring Training.
Gossett appeared in the big leagues with the A’s between 2017-18. Oakland selected the right-hander in the second round out of Clemson in 2014, and he was ranked among their top 30 prospects in each of the three years preceding his debut. The bulk of Gossett’s MLB action came in his rookie season, when he made 18 starts and worked 91 1/3 innings. The South Carolina native made only five big league starts the following year and underwent Tommy John surgery that August.
Between his two big league seasons, Gossett posted a 5.91 ERA/4.90 SIERA over 115 2/3 frames. He demonstrated strong control (7.6% walk rate) but also didn’t miss many bats (16.3% strikeout percentage) and struggled significantly with the home run ball. The elbow procedure cost Gossett all of 2019, and he didn’t pitch in 2020 owing to the cancelation of the minor league season. He spent last year with the Red Sox’s Triple-A affiliate, posting a 4.22 ERA over 98 innings but with subpar strikeout and walk rates (19% and 10.8%, respectively).
The Twins have very little stability in their starting rotation at the moment. Bailey Ober earned a spot with a quality rookie showing, and Minnesota bought low on Dylan Bundy after a tough 2021 campaign. Top prospect Joe Ryan looks to have the inside track on a season-opening spot as well, but the Twins will likely have to add a couple starters whenever the lockout concludes. Having not pitched in the bigs since 2018, Gossett seems likelier to open the season with Triple-A St. Paul than to break camp with the big league club.