“Red Sox strengthen bullpen, provide relief in Twins trade”

The Boston Red Sox were busy making a trade with the Minnesota Twins on Christmas Eve.

According to a release from the team, Boston acquired left-handed reliever Jovani Morán in exchange for infielder Mickey Gasper.

Morán missed the 2024 season following Tommy John surgery and previously posted a 4.15 ERA in three seasons with the Twins. The left-hander has numbers the Red Sox should believe in with a career FIP of 2.86 and has struck out over 11 batters per nine innings in his MLB career so far.

Gasper served as a depth option for the Red Sox between the minor leagues and big leagues. The 29-year-old played 13 games for Boston in 2024.

The Red Sox have already added left-handed relievers this winter in Justin Wilson and Aroldis Chapman, allowing Morán to stay at Triple-A Worcester to start the season and eventually carve out a key role on Alex Cora’s pitching staff.

The trade opens up a spot on the 40-man roster that could be filled following the completion of Walker Buehler’s reported deal with the Red Sox. Craig Breslow is clearly committed to further strengthening his internal pitching development pipeline with targeted additions to improve the ballclub in 2025.