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

[GNess]

For a guy who is likely a non-factor Mickey Gaspar is generating a lot of thoughtful comments..

[JADBP]

No.

Sell the team already and put us out of our misery!  If this is the best we can expect from the Pohlads then let's move on.  Enough already!  Twins fan deserve better than this.  Twins fans won't pay to come watch a Gasper. 

I am confident that the Pohlads are not going to put another dime into this team, in the hopes of making the team look like a better value.  They are flailing, trying to prop up a financial disaster that THEY made. Astute buyers will buy the team on the super-cheap, because the Pohlads made it a distressed asset.  

Their only out is to sell the team, take the $$ and run.  Retire to Florida and chase golf balls.  

Imagine, on the other hand, if the Pohlads had pulled the trigger on another SP and maybe a 2Bman at the trade deadline last year?  Even a rental could have only cost prospects.  And, if they made the playoffs and even won a game or three, the team would be worth far more than the one that absolutely imploded in the last quarter-season.  They could be selling HIGH with the team on the upswing, but baby-boy Pohlad is not quite able to see that far ahead.  

[DocBauer]

5 hours ago, Greglw3 said:

For me, forget the power, we weren’t going to get a power bat for Moran, and not everyone needs to hit with power nor should they for a well balanced team.

His AAA numbers show a .367 batting average and .471 OBP in over 200 PA! I’d bet that there were few, if any who could match that average and OBP both (over 200 PA) in all of AAA. So maybe he can help. I believe more in on base combined with 3 or 4 power hitters for a balanced team. The Twins have come up way short in the OB type players in recent years.

 

I don't disagree with you, though I look more closely at his career MILB numbers and not 200 PA in 2024 when he put up monstrous numbers. Those would be:

.275/ .392/ .449/ .841

Still good numbers. I read a piece by Gleeman today who quoted PECOTA or someone that he projects to something like a .255 AVG and .340-ish OB%. I don't recall the SLG or OPS. 

I'm not a fan of the Gasper add for anything but AAA depth at this point. But I can at least see potential value if he actually hits and gets OB at a decent clip as the last man on the bench. (I don't have any idea how good or bad his defense is at any spot). I just really want SOMEONE who brings more to the team than a potentially "OK" bat with no speed and little power.

But I'd be a hypocrite for pushing Keirsey and Helman as guys who need a long look in ST, and deserve one IMO, and just be TOO flippant in dismissing Gasper entirely. But both of those guys project better defensively...OF and UTILITY...with speed and some power.

I just want SOMEONE better for that last spot who adds more offense. Reality is we might not be able to add someone like that. I'm actually thinking the roster is pretty much set at this point with the final spot being a combination of Gasper, Helman, Keirsey, Julien, and Martin.

(I'd have both Eeles and McCusker in camp as non roster invites for long looks to see if they might have the potential to help the club at some point).

[Dave Borton]

No position, no bat, but great 'stache, better name.

Tampa has a festival which celebrates him. A surgeon at our church was the first African American to integrate its fleet in 1994.

https://gasparillapiratefest.com

 

 

[h2oface]

Articles like this are sooooooo desperate. Glad I have second and thrid favorite teams, and love baseball, so I can get my fix from teams that care about trying to improve instead of just hoping.

[Doctor Wu]

18 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

Let’s hope for a repeat of the Brian Harper story

Good memory! That would be a most satisfactory outcome. 

[Doctor Wu]

20 hours ago, Trov said:

My guess the move goes down as a no one really remembers that it happened. 

A year from now that is the most likely outcome. 

[Riverbrian]

If he hits.

Let me be the first to say...Welcome to Minnesota.

[Riverbrian]

We committed 2,241 Plate Appearances (36%) to players who were significantly below average at the plate in 2024. 

We paid Max Kepler 10m to OPS ,682 over 399 PA's. 

We paid Kyle Farmer 6.25m to OPS .646 over 242 PA's. 

We paid Manual Margot 4m to OPS .626 over 343 PA's

We paid Christian Vazquez 10m to OPS .575 over 315 PA's

30.25 Million spent on players that kept their jobs all year long despite being rather not good enough at the plate. 

I'm simply not inclined to be concerned about Mickey Gasper making the minimum.  

I will only become concerned about Mickey Gasper on the 40 man. 

A. If he remains on the 40 man all year and also remains in AAA all year while 36% of the team MLB AB's are committed to players who are significantly below average. If he is just another Severino or Camargo hanging on the 40 man all year that they refuse to turn to while those above are struggling. I'll then be concerned about Gasper. 

B. He makes the team and remains on the 26 man roster all year despite significant below average performance at the plate. If he is just a cheaper version of a bad baseball player that you can't get rid of. I'll then be concerned about Gasper. 

Would I rather pay Margot 4m or pay Gasper the minimum? 

Gasper please and thank you. 

 

[Doctor Gast]

17 hours ago, Schmoeman5 said:

What talk? You mean TD talk?  Did I miss Rocco or Falvey mention that he has a real shot at coming North with the big club. It's all just speculation simply because the Twins haven't made any other moves. So Obviously this transaction suggests a real possibility for Caspar the mustachioed ghost.

I don't think you were born yesterday, Mr Schmoeman, So why pretend? Where the talk begins, is on social media. Agents & FOs leak talking points to social media long before or ever make a formal announcement. In this case, it's more about preparing the fanbase for future intentions that might or might not happen. In most cases if it's a bad idea they'll do it & if it's a good idea they won't. They'll end up doing what they want. There is no talk about Keirsey, Helman or Eels making the active roster when the team breaks camp over 2 months prior, although they are deserving (IMO Keirsey should be a lock). This has Falvey smell all over this, trying to drum up validity where there is none over something he has done. I don't know if Nick got this idea indirectly or directly from Falvey or from a different social media source. But this definitely smells Falvey.

[old nurse]

Gasper was on the Boston 40 man roster. They need a spot for the pitcher they signed.. Had they not traded him they could have DFAd him and lost I’m on a claim by the Twins. I am not sure why the Twins needed to give up something. The year before every team passed on Gasper in the rule 5 major league portion. Boston took him in the minor league portion.. it is not like there would be a demand 

[Rod Carews Birthday]

1 hour ago, old nurse said:

Gasper was on the Boston 40 man roster. They need a spot for the pitcher they signed.. Had they not traded him they could have DFAd him and lost I’m on a claim by the Twins. I am not sure why the Twins needed to give up something. The year before every team passed on Gasper in the rule 5 major league portion. Boston took him in the minor league portion.. it is not like there would be a demand 

Moran also was left exposed to the rule 5 and no one took him (for almost free).  So. . . the trade was rule 5 guy for former rule 5 guy.  On paper, that's a good one because the former rule 5 guy did enough to warrant adding him to the 40 man roster while the current rule 5 guy did so little he was left unprotected (and untaken). 

[D.C Twins]

3 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

We committed 2,241 Plate Appearances (36%) to players who were significantly below average at the plate in 2024. 

We paid Max Kepler 10m to OPS ,682 over 399 PA's. 

We paid Kyle Farmer 6.25m to OPS .646 over 242 PA's. 

We paid Manual Margot 4m to OPS .626 over 343 PA's

We paid Christian Vazquez 10m to OPS .575 over 315 PA's

30.25 Million spent on players that kept their jobs all year long despite being rather not good enough at the plate. 

I'm simply not inclined to be concerned about Mickey Gasper making the minimum.  

I will only become concerned about Mickey Gasper on the 40 man. 

A. If he remains on the 40 man all year and also remains in AAA all year while 36% of the team MLB AB's are committed to players who are significantly below average. If he is just another Severino or Camargo hanging on the 40 man all year that they refuse to turn to while those above are struggling. I'll then be concerned about Gasper. 

B. He makes the team and remains on the 26 man roster all year despite significant below average performance at the plate. If he is just a cheaper version of a bad baseball player that you can't get rid of. I'll then be concerned about Gasper. 

Would I rather pay Margot 4m or pay Gasper the minimum? 

Gasper please and thank you. 

 

The fact that the Twins have you pining for Gaper instead of Margot is a testament to how well they gaslight the community about their financial capabilities (woe is me about my year over year revenue while my team has appreciated to a value of 1+ billion). 

Fans need to vote with their money this year and find a different place to spend it until the Twins take themselves more seriously. 

[chpettit19]

1 hour ago, old nurse said:

Gasper was on the Boston 40 man roster. They need a spot for the pitcher they signed.. Had they not traded him they could have DFAd him and lost I’m on a claim by the Twins. I am not sure why the Twins needed to give up something. The year before every team passed on Gasper in the rule 5 major league portion. Boston took him in the minor league portion.. it is not like there would be a demand 

Teams passing on him in the Rule 5 a year ago does not mean there wouldn't have been any other claims a year after he lead AAA in OPS. Leading AAA in OPS doesn't mean there would've been claims, but it would have been a risk. 

[Riverbrian]

23 minutes ago, D.C Twins said:

The fact that the Twins have you pining for Gaper instead of Margot is a testament to how well they gaslight the community about their financial capabilities (woe is me about my year over year revenue while my team has appreciated to a value of 1+ billion). 

Fans need to vote with their money this year and find a different place to spend it until the Twins take themselves more seriously. 

I think it's bad strategy trying to force the spending of more money by taking away money that they have to spend. Sounds like a good way to get the team moved to Nashville. 

"Pining" isn't really accurate. I could care less about moves like this. I have no idea what Gasper will be. But he didn't cost 4 million so let him be who he will be. If all he has to do is clear the Margot bar... then we can spend that 4 million elsewhere. 

I did have a pretty good idea of what Margot was and he certainly was... and he was for the entire 2024 season.

I'd rather not spend 4 million here and 4 million there and 4 million over there when that 12 million could be combined to bring in something actually better then the guy with options making the minimum. 

[bean5302]

2 hours ago, D.C Twins said:

...Fans need to vote with their money this year and find a different place to spend it until the Twins take themselves more seriously. 

How about fans just do what they want rather than align themselves with some sort of cause?

 

The Twins are rolling a payroll which currently ranks 16th in MLB, and Spotrac has them projected at $138MM right now. Most people expect the Twins will cut that down to $130MM. If people aren't happy if the Twins aren't top 10 in payroll, I suggest becoming fans of other teams because the Twins aren't going to hang out up in that $200MM+ arena; new owners or not. MSP cannot reasonably support that level of expenditure.

Or you could go root for teams who are actually cheap so the complaining about payroll actually holds water...
2024
$62MM Athletics
$84MM Pirates 
$89MM Rays
$96MM Marlins
$96MM Tigers

2023
$62MM Athletics
$68MM Orioles
$74MM Pirates
$74MM Rays
$89MM Guardians
$93MM Nationals
$95MM Reds
$95MM Royals

The Twins haven't run a payroll under $97MM in the last 10 years. I canceled my seasons because of the value proposition and the bait-n-switch I felt at the end of 2023, but I see no merit in your proposal.

[farmerguychris]

On 12/30/2024 at 9:18 AM, Fire Dan Gladden said:

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.

I think you're spot on.  Behind Carmago, we don't have much high minor depth.  If we do move Vazquez (hopefully) statistics don't show we'll likely be able to go Jeffers/Camargo all year long due to the liklihood of injuries. Before this trade our catcher basket was empty, this puts someone there at the expense of losing a borderline pen lefty.  

Not exciting, but makes sense.

[Schmoeman5]

5 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

I don't think you were born yesterday, Mr Schmoeman, So why pretend? Where the talk begins, is on social media. Agents & FOs leak talking points to social media long before or ever make a formal announcement. In this case, it's more about preparing the fanbase for future intentions that might or might not happen. In most cases if it's a bad idea they'll do it & if it's a good idea they won't. They'll end up doing what they want. There is no talk about Keirsey, Helman or Eels making the active roster when the team breaks camp over 2 months prior, although they are deserving (IMO Keirsey should be a lock). This has Falvey smell all over this, trying to drum up validity where there is none over something he has done. I don't know if Nick got this idea indirectly or directly from Falvey or from a different social media source. But this definitely smells Falvey.

As secretive as they are regarding injuries, they are going to "leak talking points". Regarding a nothing transaction. Hell, I thought you'd be all over this one. With the acquisition of Gaspar, they're now free to rid themselves of Jeffers. Something you've been advocating for several years now. And now make Vasquez the primary catcher because the staff loves him so much and it's an upgrade over the last 2 years. Hey, while they're at it. Let's extend Vasquez so they don't lose him. And it might only cost 8 million for 26 and beyond. Money saved. 

[Rod Carews Birthday]

7 hours ago, D.C Twins said:

The fact that the Twins have you pining for Gaper instead of Margot is a testament to how well they gaslight the community about their financial capabilities (woe is me about my year over year revenue while my team has appreciated to a value of 1+ billion). 

Fans need to vote with their money this year and find a different place to spend it until the Twins take themselves more seriously. 

The thought that individual fans can organize themselves in such a way as to affect the bottom line of the club in any meaningful amount is silly.  If you are frustrated, which is understandable, you have the ability to spend your time and money elsewhere, but don't be deceived about its effect. 

[Doctor Gast]

3 hours ago, Schmoeman5 said:

As secretive as they are regarding injuries, they are going to "leak talking points". Regarding a nothing transaction. Hell, I thought you'd be all over this one. With the acquisition of Gaspar, they're now free to rid themselves of Jeffers. Something you've been advocating for several years now. And now make Vasquez the primary catcher because the staff loves him so much and it's an upgrade over the last 2 years. Hey, while they're at it. Let's extend Vasquez so they don't lose him. And it might only cost 8 million for 26 and beyond. Money saved. 

Very funny, I was amused & I thank for that. If you actually read my posts you'll know that my point isn't getting rid of Jeffers, it's upgrading from Jeffers. Gasper isn't even a viable 3rd string catcher. Jeffers is the best backup catcher we've ever had. If we had an elite starting catcher in-house right now MLB-ready & Jeffers locked up cheap for years as a weak-side tandem. You'd never see me hint about trading him. But what I'm trying to break is the *delusion that Jeffers is our primary catcher savior that'll be worthy of the megabucks extension that Boras will get for him because the Twins have no viable plan B,C or D. Reality is this, Jeffers isn't a primary catcher, he cannot catch consecutive games over a long extended amount of time w/o crashing & burning. He can't handle even an equal tandem without waning especially defensively in the 2nd half. Don't take my word for it check it out. '20 (backup) to Garver= very good year. '21 Garver down, Jeffer (caught a slight majority of games) with Rortvedt rounding out= Slump. '22  (primary catcher)= crashed & burned. '23 Vazquez signed, Jeffers (weak-side tandem)= a very good year. '24 (equal tandem)= started out very good but waned in the 2nd half.

  Our only hope is to go reasonably swap a proven MLB catcher to a competing team that needs one, for a young promising MLB-ready starting catcher. We can't give Vazquez away so how are we headline him in a trade? Jeffers still has good trade value for this season yet this is the best time (last year would have been much better) to trade him, the longer we wait the less we'll get for him. Personally, I'd rather have Vazquez mentoring our future catchers than Jeffers.

*This delusion will be our demise if we don't wake up soon. 

[FargoFanMan]

How about we simply call it what it is. A minor league depth move. That’s it. A good move for catching depth? Yes! Anything else? No!

[stringer bell]

3 hours ago, FargoFanMan said:

How about we simply call it what it is. A minor league depth move. That’s it. A good move for catching depth? Yes! Anything else? No!

There is a path for someone with Gasper’s skill set to make the Twins’ major league roster. So far, he has shown himself to be a good on-base guy in the minors. We don’t know if he is a good enough behind the plate to be considered as more than an emergency catcher. He didn’t hit in his cup of coffee with the Red Sox. He might also be the Twins’ best option at first base, a sobering thought. 

[TheLeviathan]

MickeyGasperDaily.

Honestly...he's a switch hitter, so I assumed they have a plan to move on from Vasquez and use his ability to hit from either side as part of a platoon with Jeffers.

Don't shoot the messenger.

[stringer bell]

1 hour ago, TheLeviathan said:

MickeyGasperDaily.

Honestly...he's a switch hitter, so I assumed they have a plan to move on from Vasquez and use his ability to hit from either side as part of a platoon with Jeffers.

Don't shoot the messenger.

I think it’s all TBD as far as his defense and hitting. I think there’s a place available for him if he can hit and can be trusted behind the plate and at first base. 

[twinstalker]

In my best Cameron Frye voice:

Mickey Gasper, you're my hero.