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Twins Swap Jovani Morán for Mickey Gasper, Acquiring An Underwhelming Last-Minute X-Mas Gift

Tom Froemming

By Tom Froemming
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Tom Froemming All-Star

Tom Froemming

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Derek Falvey is not a deadbeat who forgot Christmas. He swears Mickey Gasper wasn’t a last minute-panic gift. He just figured a Quad-A catcher with on-base skills was what we always wanted.

Image courtesy of Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

I have an embarrassing confession to make: I forgot to buy gifts and was forced to resort to my only Christmas Eve shopping option: 24-hour pharmacies. The kids are getting athletic tape that I’ll try to pass off as being all the new-age arts & craft rage. The misses gets a candle. You can never go wrong with a nice candle, right? Oh, and everyone’s also getting a knee brace. I did it, gift checklist complete!

I’ve never found Derek Falvey more relatable than in this moment.

With the Twins handcuffed by their own payroll limitations yet again this winter, all the front office has provided is a Rule 5 pick and a bunch of minor league signings. Stocking stuffers at the absolute best. Twins fans know better than to expect anything too fancy, but surely Falvey and Co. had something, anything for us wrapped up and under the tree.

Well … in reality, Falvey had to run to Walgreens and find a way to make something work for us. “Uh, another minor league signing? No, they already have dozens of those. I know, sign somebody! Shoot, that’s right, Joe has my wallet. Uh, um, I’ve got it! A minor trade!”

So Falvey called up the Boston Red Sox, scoured through a list of their available players and blindly landed on the guy he thought had the best baseball name: Mickey Gasper.

Nothing against Gasper, a 29-year-old who made his Major League debut in August. If he was the Lifesavers Candy Gift Book that accompanied some bigger, more exciting gifts, that would be perfectly fine. Instead, he’s basically the centerpiece of the Twins offseason thus far.

Gasper's cup of coffee with the Red Sox was basically empty, but he’s been interesting in the high minors. The switch-hitting Gasper has a .422 on-base percentage in 70 career Triple-A games that’s backed up by a .401 OBP in 176 career Double-A contests. There’s also some intriguing defensive versatility here, as he has experience not only behind the plate but also at both first base and second base.

Gasper received an honorable mention in the Red Sox Minor League Hitter of the Year voting at our sister site, Talk Sox. He was also selected as one of the Minor League All-Stars in Boston's system by SoxProspects.com. While you're not going to see him on any prospect lists, Gasper has been a strong performer in the minor leagues, boasting a .275/.392/.449 line (.841 OPS) over 407 career games down on the farm.

With Gasper joining the Twins 40-man roster, it leaves just one empty spot. It’s always possible to create more space, of course, but Gasper feels like exactly the type of guy you designate for assignment in a situation where you need to clear space.  

The player going to Boston, Jovani Morán, was no longer occupying a spot on the 40 man. He also arguably ranked third on the Twins left-handed reliever depth chart, behind Kody Funderburk and Brent Headrick. Given this is such a role of need for the Twins, we're essentially left to assume the Twins expect Morán to look more like his 2023 self (5.31 ERA, 1.78 K:BB ratio) than his 2022 form (2.21 ERA, 3.00 K:BB ratio). Morán, still only 27, missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Morán always had command issues and that's typically the last thing to come fully back post-TJ.

It’s an interesting swap if you’re the type of person who enjoys digging deep into rosters and analyzing how the final few spots of a big league team may shake out, but this is most definitely not what we asked for. Did you not get our Christmas wish list, Derek?

P.S. Special shoutout to Matthew Lenz, who mentioned Gasper in an article here at Twins Daily a couple weeks ago. If you want to know what underwhelming piece the Twins may add next, we’ve got you covered. 


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chpettit19
chpettit19

Every team in baseball passed on Moran in the Rule 5 but suddenly people here think he's some massive loss? Not 1 single team in all of baseball thought he'd be able to stay on their 26-man all season

tarheeltwinsfan
tarheeltwinsfan

The Twins did not exactly trade from a position of strength...left-handed pitchers. Trading Moran is a head scratcher for me.

HoskenPowell
HoskenPowell

So Gasper will replace Margot as out PH specialist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blyleven2011 Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

Blyleven2011

Verified Member
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We need catching in our system  , but a 29 year old , hope it works out ...

We need a left hander on the 26 man roster and we trade a lefthanded Moran  ...

We just might try and sign theilbar on a minor league contract ,  because we only have funderburk and headrick  on 40 man roster  ...

Not what we wanted and yes falvey isn't paying attention to our wish list , never will , he continuesto do the opposite of what the fans want , payroll restraints or not .....

Hubie29 Draft Eligible

Hubie29

Verified Member
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I disagree. I along with many posters on this site think we are all set with the roster we have.  For cripes sake, don't forget we have Byron Buxton to hold down the fort. We don't need pitching, this is our strength. We had the best bullpen in baseball last year. At least i was told that. Didn't check the stats. This trade is the best christmas present a Twins fan could ask for! This might put us over the top!

chpettit19 Minnesota Twins

chpettit19

Community Moderator
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Posted

Every team in baseball passed on Moran in the Rule 5 but suddenly people here think he's some massive loss? Not 1 single team in all of baseball thought he'd be able to stay on their 26-man all season. Not 1.

I get it. This is a super boring trade and has been a super boring offseason. But this idea that Moran is some massive loss or even a legitimate major leaguer isn't shared by a single front office in all of major league baseball. None of them trust him, including Boston, or they would've picked him weeks ago and not have given anything up in return. 

It's a nothing trade of minor leaguers that every team does every offseason. Of course we'd all like to see some major league moves, but let's not make this more than it is. AAAA player for AAAA player. 

Blyleven2011 Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

Blyleven2011

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1 minute ago, Fatbat said:

This is just sad 👎🏻

Yes it is sad , but I've been chuckling at most of the responses more than any post this year ...

They only have 1 more 40 man roster spot to add , after that if they acquire someone , someone will be dfa'd off the 40 man , start making your list ...

sweetmusicviola16 FCL Twins

sweetmusicviola16

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10 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Every team in baseball passed on Moran in the Rule 5 but suddenly people here think he's some massive loss? Not 1 single team in all of baseball thought he'd be able to stay on their 26-man all season. Not 1.

I get it. This is a super boring trade and has been a super boring offseason. But this idea that Moran is some massive loss or even a legitimate major leaguer isn't shared by a single front office in all of major league baseball. None of them trust him, including Boston, or they would've picked him weeks ago and not have given anything up in return. 

It's a nothing trade of minor leaguers that every team does every offseason. Of course we'd all like to see some major league moves, but let's not make this more than it is. AAAA player for AAAA player. 

No way. Moran's coming back off of TJ and he'll be slinging bullets. Visions of sugar plums dancing in his head.

chpettit19 Minnesota Twins

chpettit19

Community Moderator
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Posted
7 minutes ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

No way. Moran's coming back off of TJ and he'll be slinging bullets. Visions of sugar plums dancing in his head.

With pinpoint control, no doubt. People are always saying how guys coming off TJ are always on top of their control and he's always been known for his Maddux like qualities.

chinmusic Draft Eligible

chinmusic

Verified Member
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49 minutes ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

When it comes to the Stones and describing the Twins I'll go with a 1969 tune, "No Expectations"

Ain't that the truth, in the short term, anyway. (great tune, though)

 

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