Is Mickey Gasper In Line for an Opening Day Roster Spot?

[Nick Nelson]

The recent trade that sent reliever Jovani Morán to Boston in exchange for versatile defender Mickey Gasper – owner of 23 hitless MLB plate appearances at age 29 – seemed like a fairly low-wattage move. 

But the Twins likely have bigger plans for the new acquisition.

Image courtesy of © Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Returning from elbow surgery, it's fair to say that Jovani Morán was on the fringe of Minnesota's 2025 plans at best. Despite their clear need for left-handed help in the bullpen, Morán was left exposed to the Rule 5 Draft in early December, and no team took him, suggesting the 27-year-old left-hander was not in high demand. So that's the stage-setter for Mickey Gasper and contextualizing his perceived value.

It makes sense. Gasper is 29, a former 27th-round draft pick, and he hadn't appeared in the majors prior to this past season when he made 23 plate appearances in 13 games for the Red Sox. He went 0-for-18 with eight strikeouts. 

At a glance, this looks like an organizational depth move more than anything. And maybe it is. But given that the Twins have committed a precious 40-man roster spot to Gasper (leaving one vacancy remaining), and considering the state of their roster, resources and needs, it becomes clear that the club may have more significant and immediate plans in mind.

Let's talk about the factors that made Gasper an appealing target to Minnesota, aside from being inexpensive. First and foremost, there's the defensive flexibility he offers. He played mostly second base during his MLB debut with Boston last year, but has logged more innings at first base than anywhere else as a pro. The Twins currently have major question marks at both positions, as they evaluate the readiness of José Miranda, Edouard Julien and Brooks Lee to step into starting roles. 

The most intriguing aspect of Gasper's defensive toolkit is his ability to play catcher, where he's appeared in nearly 300 games as a minor-leaguer. This is a handy capability on the roster, although theoretically less so for the Twins than almost any other team. Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vázquez have been historic in their reliable availability behind the plate; Minnesota has not needed to use a third catcher but for one inning in the past two seasons. 

Of course, we know that Vázquez is being shopped aggressively as the front office aims to trim payroll. This move almost feels like a precursor to the eventuality of him being dealt, which would essentially secure Gasper's spot on the roster. A backup catcher who can fill in at a few other positions could be a nice convenience.

Despite the fact he failed to break through to the majors until age 28, and has yet to collect his first MLB hit, there are some qualities to like about Gasper's bat, especially as a complement to what the Twins currently have. Lack of power is his signature deficiency, but Gasper is a switch-hitter, solid from both sides, with phenomenal discipline and contact skills. He owns a career .392 on-base percentage in the minors, and in 2024 he slashed .328/.440/.531 between Double-A and Triple-A, drawing 56 walks against 42 strikeouts in 380 PAs. 

That's in the minors. Gasper is near 30 and has yet to accomplish anything in the major leagues. We've seen plenty of contact-oriented, low-power hitters who succeed in Triple-A fail to stack up against MLB pitching. Going with the untested 29-year-old rookie as Plan A for a bench spot would be risky, but it's seemingly a risk that the Twins feel compelled – obligated, perhaps – to take. 

Going with Gasper over the likes of Julien, Lee or Austin Martin would not be so much a sign of lost faith in those players as an opportunity to let them develop at their own pace – with everyday reps in Triple-A if needed – after displaying some overwhelm in the past campaign. The logic is not difficult to see. But for a team with contention hopes, it's a precarious gamble.

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[Cory Engelhardt]

I like getting more and more players who can put the bat on the ball.

If Gasper isn’t on the opening day roster (presumably because they have 2 catchers ahead of him on the depth chart) he has 3 options remaining. So he could be good insurance to have for the next 3 years at minimum.

Trevor Amicone certainly knows him from Gasper’s time in the Yankee system too.

Plus, awesome moustache.

[Whitey333]

This is sure proof of a boring off season thus far by the Twins.  Trying to make something out of a nothing story shows you have great fortitude and determination in writing the story.  Well written and well researched and thought out.  But who cares?  This is a another nothing move by a nothing organization.  That's it.

[Russ]

The Twins player development/evaluation department has never been wrong before (sarcasm).  Also a team that doesn't seem to want pitchers who throw lefthanded in their entire system.  Does Moran pitch at some point the Red Sox?  Maybe and Gasper won't get fans excited to buy tickets.  A non move for what appears to be a team pretending to be major league.

[miracleb]

When I first looked at his numbers (after the trade,) I was very intrigued!  His numbers would "play" as a replacement to Vasquez......if his defense behind the plate were at least "solid."  Now, there is all this talk about being a 2nd or 1st baseman???   If he can't be a catcher....he has ZERO value to this organization!

[CRF]

If this is the "biggest" move we make in the off season...then this organization is in REAL trouble. 

[Otaknam]

So they dump a lefty reliever with an excellent fastball but iffy control, for a 29 year old bench player who is 0-18 in the big leagues. I don’t think that’s going to sell any tickets.

[In My La Z boy]

Falvey is obviously not allowed to do anything of consequence. This just signals we're more concerned w/catcher than left-handed relief, and keeps the potential Vazquez trade on the table. In theory we're still needing to trim salary before opening day. 

[Fatbat]

I’m going to wait and watch.,,, nothing happen…. 

[rdehring]

Interesting.

I continue to dread the possibility, or is it liklihood, of seeing Moran in a Red Sox uniform at this summer's All-Star game.

[Linus]

This is a strange move and I don’t even think Morán is a good pitcher. Giving this guy even a 40 man spot is strange much less count on him for anything but org depth. 

[Trov]

My guess the move goes down as a no one really remembers that it happened.  I doubt either player makes a huge impact for their teams.  Gasper did have a good AAA run last year with Boston, but his history is not there. I think it is depth move and maybe the FO thinks they could unlock something in him for a year or two worth of value. 

[Teflon]

Now I even long for the days of a Tsuyoshi Nishioka or Byungho Park signing.

[JohnComan3]

The image that was used for this article looks like another called 3rd strike on Mickey in one of his 18 fruitless at bats for Boston. I do not have a problem with making moves such as this, but when they get this much attention, it only exposes the fact that the Twins have done NOTHING this off season, These types of deals should have to be searched for extensively to be found! Any talk about wasting a 40-Man roster spot on a 3rd string catcher with no power is CRAZY TALK! 

[LambchoP]

I like the trade if he can stick at catcher. His bat in the minors looked real enticing. .350 AVG, a .450 OBP with more walks than strikeouts? If he can come anywhere near that level in the show he should be a capable backup to Ryan. Maybe him and Camargo Duke it out in spring training for the backup catcher job if Vasquez is moved. We still need a first baseman and a LHRP. I saw Josh Bell just signed with WASH for only six million. He's a switch hitter with good bat to ball skills, that would have been a good cheap pickup for us, but we're seemingly stuck until we dump Vasquez and or Paddack. They need to get on it then, more and more teams are finalizing their rosters. We need to make our move before there are none to make. I still think Coloumbe could be had cheap on a one year deal. 

[High heat]

When you have zero financial flexibility these are the moves you can make and have to talk about.

I hope he can be a major league catcher, I’d rather use guys like Helman at 2nd base and someone with some power at 1B.  
 

Twins can just hope for the market to completely dry up or all the free agents to be gone so teams are more willing to make unique trades.

With Josh Bell getting 6 million I don’t think the markets drying up

[chpettit19]

The Twins don't do opening day bench players. The Twins only do opening day role players. If Mickey Gasper is on the opening day roster it's because the Twins have plans to play Mickey Gasper. It's possible they just believe in his International League leading bat (for players with at least 200 PAs). That'd be interesting, and I'd wonder if it puts Payton Eeles in play for an opening day, or early season, job if he dominates in spring, as he was 18th on that list of International League leading hitters (Wallner was 30th for those who are curious).

I'd guess the far more likely answer is he's the AAAA roster depth he appeared to be at the time of the trade. He started the year in AA for his 3rd (plus a 10 game cup of coffee in a 4th year) go round at the level. He did well there again and then lit AAA on fire. But he was 28. He should succeed in his 4th look at AA and 2nd look at AAA in his late 20s. 

He walks and doesn't strike out. That certainly gives him a fighting chance to be a utility type guy, and if he can actually catch that profile alone is plenty enough. But being that he's going to be 29 and he's never been given the slightest shot at being a backup catcher I find it hard to believe that he can actually catch. I have no idea, but guys who can put the bat on the ball, take a walk, and not strike out while catching tend to get shots before they're 28/29. While 1B/2B guys with no power have to hit like Luis Arraez to get a shot. And Mickey Gasper is not Luis Arraez.

[Coach Wheels]

"Let's talk about the factors that made Gasper an appealing target to Minnesota, aside from being inexpensive"

There is nothing appealing about a 29 year old career munor league player with zero big league hits. This is a financial deal and nothing more. This is who the Twins will be in 2025, let's not try and spin positivity out of deals like this.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

This is an insurance move if/when they move Vazquez.  That this is probably the loudest move this team will make between now and ST is very sad.

Welcome to the new age of Twins baseball.

[Greglw3]

Good article, no disagreements. I am choosing, after some initial doubt, to focus on that spectacular stint at AAA last year. Maybe he becomes a Robbie Grossman type. Best case, I could see him getting significant paying time next year, probably mostly at 1B, DH and C, less at 2B.

[tony&rodney]

I'm confused why anyone would believe that a utility infielder who has caught some will somehow replace Jair Camargo much less Christian Vazquez. The past two years have taught us that Ryan Jeffers does a decent job when his playing time is managed. Pushing Jeffers has not worked out and a Gasper experiment could be a disaster for Jeffers and the pitching staff.

The idea that Falvey is not allowed to make any moves is ridiculous. The only news has been that the team expected to remain at the same payroll level for 2025. There are always options. If a budget has been set at anywhere from $120-140M, the Twins can maneuver around to roster the team that they desire. I will grant that a budget below $110M would necessitate a couple of deals that weaken the team. However, there are still options to exchange minimum or low level salaries to fill positions if that is what the front office desires. 

Nothing has changed as far as the catching situation. Until the Twins acquire a catcher, they cannot move Vazquez or Jeffers. I think Moran was traded because the Twins didn't care for him. Gasper is AAA depth.

[Twodogs]

He will be Randy Dobnak's personal catcher in St. Paul.

[HoskenPowell]

NO.    That was simple.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

I think this is one of those longshot, lottery ticket style trades.  There are some underlying traits that could play well, but not much to show for it -- and also not much of an opportunity gotten from the previous team.  Teams do this all the time.  Not a big cost, but not a big return either -- just hoping to catch something useful.  They did it a couple of years ago with a claim on Willi Castro. 

In the Twins current situation, I really like the trade.  They weren't going to pitch Moran, and it appears the league agreed with that assessment.  They could use a lottery ticket as a catcher (he could be the insurance policy on them trading Vasquez) and it appears that he has a few other flexible defensive skills.  It wouldn't surprise me at all if he winds up on the opening day roster.  We all thought Willi Castro wasn't going to stick a few years ago too. 

Getting into the cheapness factor or the bad management factor or the bad trading factor (all of which are relative, and perhaps not always based in reality) does the Twins or the fans no good at all.  From a purely baseball standpoint, this makes a ton of sense.  Now go out and trade a middle infielder or two.

[DocBauer]

** 300 MILB games at catcher? I'm confused. Baseball Reference shows 114 and 115 incollege. That's not 300 unless someone is reporting incorrectly.

15% caught stealing doesn't scream ML catcher option to me, other than as a #3 guy.

He SHOULD be AAA depth replacing Williams as a C/1B/DH option with more bat, less power. And maybe that's where he still ends up.

Unfortunately, I'm starting to believe he we might be a legitimate option for the 13th man spot. His 0 for 18 debut doesn't concern me at all. That's a debut over the equivalent of 4-5 games. I'd put more stock in his MILB career over 18 plate appearances. Being able to hit and make contact and have a good OB% from both sides of the plate could be a nice bench addition, and support for Miranda, less pressure to be the #1 guy every day, and still be freed up for some 3B duty. 

But no speed, no real power to speak of, probably not a true catcher, he should be AAA depth. If he's planned on for more than that, there's probably a wasted spot on the position portion of our 2025 roster.

 

[Rod Carews Birthday]

Oops almost forgot the most important question.  Which is better, Gaspar's mustache or Austin Martin's use of face paint?

[Jocko87]

Quote

Of course, we know that Vázquez is being shopped aggressively as the front office aims to trim payroll.

Do we?

Do we know this with any remote level of certainty to state it as gospel fact so strongly?

We do not.  We know nothing of the sort.

Editorial standards are more important than editorializations.

[saviking]

Our only hope in the long term is to get this team sold or pray our young players all bust out simultaneously. Until then, I'll still watch the development of our young guys.

[Parfigliano]

28 minutes ago, Twodogs said:

He will be Randy Dobnak's personal catcher in St. Paul.

It's more then past time they show The Dobber proper respect.

[Parfigliano]

25 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

** 300 MILB games at catcher? I'm confused. Baseball Reference shows 114 and 115 incollege. That's not 300 unless someone is reporting incorrectly.

15% caught stealing doesn't scream ML catcher option to me, other than as a #3 guy.

He SHOULD be AAA depth replacing Williams as a C/1B/DH option with more bat, less power. And maybe that's where he still ends up.

Unfortunately, I'm starting to believe he we might be a legitimate option for the 13th man spot. His 0 for 18 debut doesn't concern me at all. That's a debut over the equivalent of 4-5 games. I'd put more stock in his MILB career over 18 plate appearances. Being able to hit and make contact and have a good OB% from both sides of the plate could be a nice bench addition, and support for Miranda, less pressure to be the #1 guy every day, and still be freed up for some 3B duty. 

But no speed, no real power to speak of, probably not a true catcher, he should be AAA depth. If he's planned on for more than that, there's probably a wasted spot on the position portion of our 2025 roster.

 

So this years Margot