Rangers president of baseball operations Jon Daniels indicated today that he is not willing to rule out a trade of top starter Mike Minor, as TR Sullivan of MLB.com was among those to cover on Twitter.
While Daniels also made clear he isn’t particularly inclined to move the organization’s best pitcher, it’s notable that he’s adopting such an open stance on the subject at this point of the season. With just over two weeks to go until the trade deadline, the Rangers are still sitting just 2.5 games out of Wild Card position. Though the eight-game gap in the division likely can’t be bridged, it’s not inconceivable that the Texas club will be in shouting distance by the end of the month.
All things considered, it’s a practical and realistic position to take for the Rangers’ top baseball decisionmaker. When he addressed the club’s deadline stance a month ago, Daniels said he intended to “stay true to our mind-set of trying to balance, continue to place a priority on the next few years.” He wouldn’t be swayed much by the standings, he further indicated, explaining: “overall we know which direction we’re going in.”
For an organization that hopes to reload with young talent while remaining competitive in the near-term, this has been a bit of a dream season. Not only has the club hit on several (but not all) free-agent investments, and seen strides from some (again, not all) key young players, it has put itself in position for a legitimate run at a playoff spot.
As for Minor … he fits somewhere in the middle on all fronts. Signed to a three-year deal before the 2018 season, he has outperformed all expectations. The $9.5MM salary he’s due this year and next seems to be a bargain now that Minor is through 117 innings of 2.54 ERA ball on the season. While the Rangers would like to continue enjoying Minor’s presence atop a rotation that still has quite a few questions, the chance of cashing in obviously tantalizes as well.
There’s one other possibility, of course: an extension. But Minor is 31 years of age and has a worrying history of arm maladies. Whether or not he’d be amenable to sorting out a new deal isn’t clear, but the Rangers would no doubt need to tread carefully for a contract to present a clear value proposition. At this point, it seems hard to view the possibility of an extension as a significant factor.
Ultimately, Daniels indicates more that he’s open to listening to offers than preparing to shop the veteran lefty. There’s a notable difference there, at least in theory. But the key question will arise at the point of decision. Will the Texas organization stand on a hefty asking price or will it ultimately take the best reasonable offer it’s able to procure?
philly should make the move if the rangers do decide to move him.
They are being linked to Cole Hamels too
Why? He’s the only half decent starter Chicago has had this season.
If they start to fall out of it. I read it this morning I think it was a bs article cause I don’t see that happening
what a good offer for him
I know that it might not be popular, but I would trade Wright and Allard for Minor.
Omg every Braves poster on here heads would explode!…I wouldn’t mind it all, he was never utilized correctly from what I remember…kinda like Heyward being forced to lead off when he wasn’t really the type of hitter during that regime
Maybe one or the other of those 2 guys, Minor isn’t worth both, but oddly enough that would make a lot of sense for Atlanta.
Wright isn’t getting moved. They paid him too high of a bonus to move him. Atlanta is several pieces away from a title team on the pitching side, no need to waste prospects yet.
I could see that
Alot of ranger fans r calling for him to be traded but i think thats ridiculous unless u get an overwhelming absurd offer. Even if ur rebuilding u gotta have somebody pitching.and ur not gonna get better for less. U trade minor and lynn u go into offseason in worse shape than u did last season. At some point u have to start spending money again and quit rolling payroll back. Uve cut payroll 25% in 4 yrs and ur going into a new stadium. Trading ur best 2 pitchers for 2-3 prospects that r 2-3 seasons and cutting payroll again doesnt send very good message to ur players, fans, or free agents.
He’s been dominant and locked up for a year and a half at a reasonable sum–he’s worth an absurd sum.
This is all the more reason to keep him if you have any hopes of competing next season.
They really should see if hed sign an extension for 2 yrs 30-36m and hope the kids r ready by time hes done
I think the kids are ready now. The Rangers are fifth in the league in runs scored without unsustainable production from anyone other than Pence, who’s been hurt.
This lineup is ready to compete now. Fix the pitching staff and this team can contend as early as next year IMO. That’s why all this talk of trading Minor and/or Lynn drives me crazy. This team isn’t as far as off as many Rangers fans seem to think.
Right. I meant the kid pitchers on the farm. Palumbo, jurado, burke the top pitching prospects.
Gotcha. I don’t think the Rangers have any pitchers above A ball currently that they can count on as rotation mainstays, and I would prefer they build their staff in a way that treats those guys you just mentioned as depth rather than rotation pieces.
I like Jurado as a No. 5, but that’s his ceiling IMO, and I’m not sold on Hearn, Palumbo or Burke as members of a winning rotation anytime in the near future. I like that they’re in the organization, but I prefer them battling it out with Jurado for the No. 5 spot or as injury replacements for a veteran-led opening day rotation.
That’s why I don’t want to trade Minor or Lynn and why I think it’s important to add a controllable veteran innings eater at the deadline. That makes completing the rotation with a solid mid-rotation arm in the winter a lot easier than having to go shopping for three guys in free agency or handing two or more rotation spots to rookies who are really fringe prospects to begin with.
Right. I agree. Thats what i was trying to say. Try to keep minor and lynn till 2021 maybe even 2022 and let the minor league guys completely develop and give team more time to see what they really have and not base decicisions off cpl years of single and double a
Yeah, from reading this thread, it looks like you and I are pretty much on the same page.
I’d definitely be looking to extend Minor this winter, and I’d go as many three years with the money front loaded. With his offspeed stuff, he’s got a repertoire that should age pretty well. And a lot of good lefties have pitched well into their mid-30s — including several for the Rangers.
I with you DY…
Woody is doing a great job keeping the team focused and a winning attitude. Time to find some arms to add to this productive offense… NOT trade it away.
I agree completely. You have a really nice 1-2 at the top of your rotation locked up through next season, a good young lineup. The Rangers should be looking to bolster the rotation behind Minor and Lynn for next year, not dismantling it. Trading Minor would force you to rebuild the entire rotation, making next season another year like this one, where you’re hoping a bunch of buy-low signings and marginal prospects to pan out.
I’m with you guys. But I think JD has to do his due diligence here. Dangle Minor and see if one of these teams on the hot seat offers you a silly overpay. If you don’t get something crazy then just keep him. We have seen too many big package deals set up a franchise for a long time to not consider it
Hate to be a downer here but what are the odds that the success continues? A 2.54 ERA isn’t easy to replicate, so if you can sell high then its probably worth it. It definitely depends on if they want to go for it, but if not, he should be able to net some pretty good talent based off this year alone.
While that would typically be a valid comment, i just dont see wheels totally falling off. In 17 he pitched very well out of pen 1st year back from missing 2 seasons. Last year his era regressed substantially, but he was also moved from bp to sp and ip more than doubled, and now this year his pitching much like he did as a reliever in 17. And were not talking a small sample size, were 1/2 through season and he has over 100ip. Yes, i do expect some regression. 2.50 era is near impossible to maintain over a full season, its a long season, and its about to get hot in arlington.but even if he gained a full point to his era, thats still a quality starter at a discounted price. And if u trade him, then u have to replace him, and where else r u gonna get a quality 1,2, or even 3 starter for less than $10m? And like i said before, theyre going into a new billion dollar stadium next year and need to put butts in seats. And ur not sending a good message to ur team, fans, and possible free agent targets by trading him. And after rolling payroll back 4 consecutive seasons, at some point u have to start pushing forward and quit moving backwards. Or ur gonna have a $100m triple a team playing in front of 8000 ppl in that new billion dollar stadium. Then u start putting urself in miami territory
Minor had a 3.23 ERA with a .637 opponent’s OPS from June on last season. He’s been pitching like an ace for almost 14 months now.
Could he regress? Certainly. But’s it’s just as likely that he’s found a new gear now that he’s fully healthy.
I think that year in the bullpen worked wonders for him. It let him see how good his stuff can be and forced him to find a strikeout pitch. It’s also helped him with runner’s on base, where he’s been absolute nails for the Rangers.
I agree completely. Didnt know that about june on last year. But hes definitely steadily improved last 3 seasons. Not like its some flash in the pan small sample size
to Padres for Luis Patino and ryan weathers
After watching luis Patino in the futures game on mlb network, I’m not sure padres would part with him for mike minor
I’m for signing Minor – we need some stability in the pitching.
Not a good sign to fans to trade our best pitcher, especially going into a new ballpark.
Nailed it. The Rangers need to build around Minor and Lynn. Add one more innings eater at the deadline and a legit No. 2/3 starter in the winter and you’ve got a legitimately good rotation. Trade Minor and you’re rebuilding it from scratch … again.
Be realistic. Rangers aren’t likely to make the playoffs this year and even if they do they aren’t winning anything. Trade him for the best prospects you can get and spend the extra $ you save on a big free agent splash during the off season before you go into the new stadium.
Trading Minor means punting next year as well. You’re not going to get anything back in that trade that is going to contribute to a championship rotation in 2020. And you’re going to have pay double what Minor is owed next year to add a pitcher of his caliber on the free agent market. It makes way more sense to try to resign minor to a reasonable extension than it does to trade him when you’ve got a lineup that’s ready to contend now and an offseason to rebuild the bullpen.
Trading the oft injured Minor doesn’t mean your punting next season just means your doing smart business get a prospect that you would normally not get and sign a replacement in the off season
Minor hasn’t been injured in three years. He’s made virtually every scheduled start since rejoining the rotation. How exactly is he oft-injured at this point?
And the Rangers need a minimum of two more starters with Minor. It’s not just a matter of signing a replacement. It’s a matter of completely rebuilding the rotation, which is not something this — or any — front office has proven it can do in one offseason.
This time, teams better drop off their top couple of prospects or then Minor stays. He’s good enough this season to yield an overpay from some desperate team. Or we keep him. I don’t want to hear about teams bargaining for him with lowball offers. Those are loser teams wasting everybody’s time.
Spend the dollars?
They will/should have a boatload to spend next year!!
With Tyler Glasnow looking more and more like he might not come back this season, and Brett Honeywell out for the year, I would love the Tampa Bay Rays to add this arm. The Rays have a fat minor-league system to work with to get a deal done. A rotation of Snell, Morton, Minor, McKay, and Chirinos would be pretty pretty solid down the stretch.
I think the rangers would want Matthew liberatore
Cubs should send Quintana, Happ, and a sweetener for him.
Rangers still have a serviceable or better starter, but gain a team option over Q for next season instead of a Guarantee to Minor. They also gain a flyer bat that needs a change of scenery in Happ, and pick up a fringe prospect or two. Maybe two of Keegan Thompson, Alex Lange, Alec Mills, or Thomas Hatch.
You’re going to have to blow the doors down to get Minor. remember the Rangers have a better record than the Cubs. Meaning why wouldn’t Texas just try for the playoffs themselves? Trading a decent pitcher with less control and a change-of-scenery guy with a superutility ceiling is just not going to get it done.
It’s funny seeing fans of teams with worse records than the Rangers talking about trading for Minor as though it’s a given that Texas will be selling their affordable, controllable ace.
To hell with him : a braves fan