The Red Sox entered the deadline with pitching atop their wish list. As the clock ticked toward zero, MLB on Fox mistakenly lit up X (formerly Twitter) with news that Boston had landed Minnesota’s coveted starter Joe Ryan. It wasn’t true — and for fans already frustrated by the lack of headline-grabbing deals, the fakeout stung. 

Which makes the irony almost too rich. Because one Twins pitcher Boston did acquire — in a low-profile Christmas Eve swap — is now authoring a season in Triple-A that demands attention. 

Jovani Moran Impresses at Worcester After Missing 2024 Following Tommy John Surgery

There wasn’t much fanfare after the Red Sox traded infielder Mickey Gasper to Minnesota for reliever Jovani Moran, which shouldn’t be surprising, given that Moran had been held out for all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. But after a brief rehab assignment in June, Moran has created a buzz at Worcester.

In 12 appearances, Moran has posted a 3.44 ERA with 26 strikeouts and just three walks in 18.1 innings. With a mid-90s fastball/changeup combo that is drawing rave reviews, the 28-year-old left-hander could be the kind of high-leverage middle reliever every contender covets.

Moran’s emergence could help ease the sting of Boston’s lackluster effort at the trade deadline.

The dream chase for Ryan fizzled spectacularly, only to be followed by two modest rentals, Steven Matz and Dustin May. Social media lit up in fury, with fans unleashing a wave of frustration at Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow for failing to pull off meaningful upgrades during a crucial playoff push.

Breslow tried to calm the storm, acknowledging the angst but insisting that all every effort was made. 

“We pursued a number of really impact opportunities. Obviously, not all of them work out. It wasn’t from an unwillingness to get uncomfortable,” Breslow said. 

Emergence of Jovani Moran Could Ease Sting of Lackluster Trade Deadline

That was small consolation to a fan base that has ridden a roller coaster of extremes with the Boston pitching staff this season, dominant in some stretches, leaky in others. Moran’s potential arrival could offer the Red Sox something in short supply: a live arm from the left side that can miss bats late in games.  

It’s been a long road for the 28-year-old, who logged 91 big-league appearances for the Twins before injuries stalled his career. But a change of scenery, some mechanical tweaks, and a retooled pitch mix have him looking like a potential weapon for a club still clinging to postseason hopes. 

In other words, the Joe Ryan rumor was a mirage. The Jovani Moran addition might just be the real prize from Minnesota after all.