After a year away, Mickey Gasper is back in Boston.
The Red Sox announced Wednesday afternoon that it had claimed the 30-year-old infielder/outfielder off waivers from the Washington Nationals, further bolstering the club’s utility depth. The Red Sox had two open spots on their 40-man roster, which now stands at 39 with Gasper on board.
Originally drafted by the New York Yankees in 2018, Gasper came to the Red Sox as a minor league Rule 5 pick ahead of the 2024 season. Typically minor league Rule 5 selections don’t factor into a club’s big league plans and mainly serve to fill out the minor league system, but Gasper performed brilliantly upon his arrival, batting .328 with a .970 OPS in 92 games split between Double-A and Triple-A.
Eventually Gasper earned a big league promotion after nearly seven years toiling in the minors, appearing in 13 games for the Red Sox down the stretch.
Following the 2024 season Gasper was traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for left-hander Jovani Moran, and he went on to appear in 45 games for the Twins, batting .158 with two home runs and 11 RBI. He was designated for assignment by the Twins and claimed off waivers by the Nationals last month, and this week he was DFA’d again by Washington.
Gasper’s role with the Red Sox will depend on what other additions the club makes in the upcoming weeks, but for now he will provide additional depth as a switch-hitter who can play all over the field, including at catcher.