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Atlanta Braves trade rumors: the team is now scouting multiple starters

By Alan Carpenter

DETROIT, MI - JUNE 26: Starting pitcher Mike Minor #23 of the Texas Rangers goes through an exercise before pitching against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Comerica Park on June 26, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Minor pitched his second complete game of the season, allowing one run on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts, in a 4-1 win. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 26: Starting pitcher Mike Minor #23 of the Texas Rangers goes through an exercise before pitching against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Comerica Park on June 26, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Minor pitched his second complete game of the season, allowing one run on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts, in a 4-1 win. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – JUNE 26: Mike Minor #23 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the second inning at Comerica Park on June 26, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – JUNE 26: Mike Minor #23 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the second inning at Comerica Park on June 26, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

MIKE MINOR

Mike Minor threw 113 pitches (73 strikes) over 7 innings for the Rangers against the Houston Astros, punching out 10 of them and walking just 1 while scattering 3 other hits.

He gave up 4 runs – all earned – as a result of 4 homers allowed in Minute Maid Park.  His season’s ERA rose slightly to 2.86, and he’s now up to 129 innings on the season after his 20th start.

Anybody wondering whether his shoulder troubles are still lingering ought to put those thoughts away.  He’s come a long way back after being released by the Braves in 2014 and not pitching at all in 2015.

Minor’s opponents this year:  Houston (4 times, including his last 2 starts), Angels (3 times), Seattle/KC (twice each), Oakland/Boston/Baltimore/Cubs/DBacks/Jays/Reds/Indians/Tigers (all once each).

Honestly, with that slate of opponents, his ERA is suddenly looking quite a bit better than it suggests… even as low as it already is.

Minor’s been credited with Game Scores of 80+ on 4 occasions (plus a 79 and a 77).  His top game was a 3 hit complete game shutout of the Angels on April 16th.

Bio Stuff

Minor has the prototypical starter size as 6’4″/210.  He’s still just 31½ years old and you could certainly argue that his “arm years” are more like those of a 28-year-old.

The Braves made him their #7 overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Vanderbilt.

He has just over 1000 major league innings now after seeing somewhat limited action in 2014-2017 (none at all in 2015).

Minor peaked at 204 innings in 2013 before injuries derailed him.  He got back up to 157 innings in 2018 (4.18 ERA) and is having a magnificent 2nd season with Texas now… on pace for roughly 177 innings.

Minor is signed through 2020 on a deal that pays him a total of $28 million over a 3 year span.  You can expect the acquiring team to have to pick up most of (if not all) his entire contract as part of the trade.

What Does Texas Want?

For this, we defer to Kevin Sherrington, Rangers beat writer for the Dallas Morning News and SportsDayDFW.com.  He gave this answer to the question, summarizing his cohort Evan Grant on the subject just today:

"[Evan] thinks they should be able to command two prospects from a team’s top 10 and then a player outside that range. One of those should be a top prospect. Let’s compare what they got for Yu Darvish. They asked about Walker Buehler and Alex Verdugo and got Willie Calhoun, who was the Dodgers’ No. 4, and a prospect outside the top 10. And Darvish was a rental. Minor has another year on a very team-friendly contract. The Rangers will look at the farm systems of teams that are loaded, such as the Braves and Phillies. The Brewers are apparently interested, too. Lot to consider here."

Okay, before we all recoil on this, let’s take a step back to consider what he’s saying:

  • He cites Yu Darvish as a precedent for setting the trade bar.  He’s correct.
  • He cites Minor’s extra year of control.  He’s correct.
  • Entering last year’s deadline season, Darvish was the same age as Minor
  • Darvish had a 4.01 ERA.  Minor’s pitching better.

Thus while many are touting Stroman as the best starting pitcher available this trade season, that may not be the case.

So to beat that Dodger trade, Texas would have to get something like this from the Braves:

  • One of Pache/Wright/Anderson/Waters
  • 2 of Wilson/Ynoa/Jenista/Beck/Tarnok/Burrows/Weigel

This would hurt… and it might get the Braves deep into the playoffs, soooo… what do you want to do here?

Offer?

In an effort to try and come up with a palatable offer to Texas that they might actually accept, here’s one proposal:

The likely counter-offer? Ian Anderson and Drew Waters.

The possible compromise?  Wright and Waters.  At that point, it would come down to whether anyone else offers more/better.

As with Toronto, the Rangers would not need to make a deal here, but they would be motivated to sell high, for the offers they receive now will be the best ones they ever get.

Let’s check in with Toronto.

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