ARLINGTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 28: Mike Minor #42 of the Texas Rangers (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Mike Minor has been traded to Oakland
When Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a grand slam against the Texas Rangers while up 10-3, it sent Chris Woodward’s team on such a downward slide that they went from surprise playoff contender to the bottom half of the AL West. With plenty of assets worth trading for, the Rangers sent away one of their best pitchers when they traded Mike Minor.
The Rangers started their fire sale, trading away Minor to the Oakland Athletics. Despite his success over the years, Texas was only able to get two players to be named later in return.
Mike Minor has really struggled for the Rangers in 2020
If the Rangers traded Minor before the season started, they could’ve netted several top prospects. A quality starter during his five years with the Atlanta Braves, Minor missed all of 2015 and 2016 due to injury before reinventing himself as an elite left-handed reliever for the Kansas City Royals in 2017. While Minor put up a 3.84 ERA during his first two seasons as a Ranger, which included an All-Star nod in 2019, he has been pretty rough in 2020, as he has surrendered seven home runs in 35 innings while earning a 5.60 ERA.
The A’s, in need of some more pitching outside of Jesus Luzardo to complement their deep, powerful lineup, decided to take a flier on Minor. With Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea both disappointing in 2020, Minor might be able to knock one of them out of the rotation and solidify Oakland’s pitching in the postseason.
The Rangers still have Lance Lynn and Joey Gallo on the roster, and contenders from both leagues have their gaze firmly fixed on both of them. Texas’ selling is by no means done now that Minor is traded, as they still have an elite starter and one of the strongest power-hitters in the game ready to give away.