The Rangers announced they’ve traded Dane Dunning to the Braves for minor league reliever José Ruiz and cash. Atlanta designated Jesse Chavez for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. Ruiz was outrighted last month. Texas’ roster count technically drops to 38 but will climb back to 39 tomorrow when they select the contract of first baseman Rowdy Tellez.
It’s a salary dump for the Rangers. Dunning has fallen out of favor over the past two seasons. The former first-round pick tossed 172 2/3 innings of 3.70 ERA ball during the World Series season two years ago. He only managed a 5.31 mark in 95 frames last season. While Texas tendered him a contract, Dunning had to take a very rare arbitration pay cut to ensure the Rangers didn’t move on.
That didn’t get him a spot on the Opening Day roster. The 30-year-old Dunning gave up 10 runs in 11 innings during Spring Training. Texas waived him at the end of camp in the hope that another team would take his $2.66MM salary. No one bit, and he has spent most of the year in Triple-A.
Dunning was called up in April, again cleared waivers in May, and was selected back onto the roster last month. He has been limited to five MLB appearances, all out of the bullpen, and has allowed four runs across 10 2/3 innings. He has worked as a starter in the minors, pitching to a 4.47 ERA over 46 1/3 frames in the Pacific Coast League. Dunning has punched out 24% of Triple-A opponents against a 9% walk rate.
The Rangers were unlikely to give Dunning anything more than mop-up work. He had fallen behind Patrick Corbin, Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker at the back of the rotation. Texas expects to get Jon Gray back from a wrist fracture in the next week or two. Dunning has a much better path to a rotation spot on an Atlanta team that has been decimated by injuries.
They’re without Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, Reynaldo López and AJ Smith-Shawver. They’ve given 15 starts to Bryce Elder, who has a near-6.00 ERA. Davis Daniel made his first start of the season just before the All-Star Break. He’s the nominal fourth starter behind Spencer Strider, Grant Holmes and Elder. They pressed 20-year-old Didier Fuentes into MLB work for which he was clearly not ready. He’s now back in Triple-A.
Dunning has been a capable back-end starter in the past. It seems he’ll work in long relief initially, as the Braves tabbed swingman Joey Wentz to start on Saturday against the Yankees. Dunning still has an option remaining. He’ll be eligible for arbitration at least once more. There’s a decent chance the Braves will non-tender him regardless, but they didn’t give up anything of note to acquire him.
Ruiz, 30, is a journeyman reliever. He managed a 3.71 ERA while striking out 24% of opponents over 52 appearances for the Phillies last season. Things went off the rails this year, as he has allowed 17 runs in 16 1/3 MLB innings. Atlanta claimed him off waivers from Philadelphia but waived him themselves after he gave up three runs in one inning during his second appearance with the club. He has since tossed 7 2/3 innings of four-run ball in Triple-A. The Rangers assigned him to their top affiliate in Round Rock.
The Phillies and Ruiz agreed to a $1.225MM arbitration salary. The Braves assumed that when they claimed him. Atlanta is paying down an unspecified portion of that sum. Dunning is owed roughly $1MM for the rest of the season, while Ruiz is owed about $450K. A direct swap without cash considerations would’ve knocked about $550K off the Rangers’ books. They’ll save a bit more than that depending on the amount of money that the Braves are covering.
It’s a small amount by MLB standards. However, as MLBTR pointed out in tonight’s preview of the Rangers deadline for Front Office subscribers, Texas should be motivated to cut spending around the fringe of the roster. Ownership clearly wants the front office to remain below the $241MM base luxury tax threshold. RosterResource calculated their CBT number a little above $234MM before tonight’s deal. That’s an unofficial estimate that doesn’t account for incentives that’ll add to the team’s tax number as they’re unlocked down the stretch.
The Rangers need to add at least one impact bat if they’re going to make a playoff push. They should probably acquire multiple hitters and would benefit from bringing in a power arm at the back of the bullpen. Dunning was the most obvious player for a pure salary dump as deadline season approaches. Gray, Adolis García and Jonah Heim could be candidates for a payroll-cutting trade as well, though they have (or will have, in Gray’s case) a bigger role than Dunning was playing.
As for Chavez, he’ll go back on waivers for the third time this year. There’s a good chance he’ll clear, elect free agency, then re-sign with Atlanta on a minor league contract. The 41-year-old righty has given up eight runs in as many innings over four MLB appearances this season. He has a 2.05 ERA across 30 2/3 innings in the minors.
Image courtesy of Kirby Lee, Imagn Images.
At least he’s not coming up from Gwinnett.
He’s coming up from Round Rock!
When will Chavez finally say enough is enough? How many times has he been DFA’d by the Braves now?!???????!?????? lmfaooo
He’s addicted to the DFA.
Around 1500 times? But they keep paying him, and that’s what it’s all about.
Mondesi
Chavez has made over twenty-five million in baseball salary, pitching 657 games and with over one thousand strikeouts. Impressive!
Mondesi: When no team offers him a chance to play.
Until then, to paraphrase “Bull Durham,” he can keep going to the ballpark and keep getting paid to do it. Beats the heck out of working at Sears and selling Lady Kenmores. 🤣
Give me $1M a year to fly back and forth every few weeks? Easy-peacey.
Headline should have read: “Braves DFA Jesse Chavez” and then somewhere in the body should have been the sentence, “Dane Dunning will take the 40 man spot on the roster as he was acquired in a trade.” …Nothing more.
It’s called a big paycheck. And teams end up offering him contracts, would you turn down a million?
At this point, Dunning is more a dog than a Great Dane.
Da dun dun!
The stove is sooo hot
Theres no way the stove should be this LIT right now.
Why not?
Just another scrub. But can’t be any worse then Ruiz or Jesse
Than
Can’t be any worse. Then Ruiz or Jesse.
How long before Jesse Chavez is back with the Braves?
2 weeks tops
They already have minor league contracts pre-printed for Jesse ready to sign!
AL B DAMNED: Not really. Contracts are signed electronically in pdf form now.
AL doesn’t know what Docusign is.
They have to use the auto pen to keep up with the constant stream of Jesse Chavez dfa’s and minor league deals. Jesse invested in one himself too.
Do they use auto pen?
I highly doubt it is used in anything but politics. DocuSign is the easy way to do things like this. Just being sarcastic since we all know Jesse will have about 50 separate contracts with the Braves this year.
……. or auto-penned?
72 hours probably
Trading for Jose Ruiz is a net loss.
Cash and dumping Dunnings salary is more important than Ruiz here. Rangers have a tight budget at the deadline and this helps for future acquisitions
That money can go a long way for the Rangers if they are looking to add some bats while staying below the 241m luxury tax
Atlanta needs innings.
Texas needs to dump salary for a useless player. They are close to the LTC.
Dump Dunning. Simple.
Ozuna could be an option. His 16 million salary puts them close. I’d imagine if they acquire Ozuna, they’d like to make other moves as well. They have been avoiding that luxury tax like the plague
Their luxury tax payroll is significantly higher. They had less than $7M under the cap. This gives a little extra wiggle room.
The equivalent to buying power of $1.5M in full season salary. if they make another move or 2 it could free up a little more. Could be the difference in adding an extra player at the deadline.
Stabbed Jesse in the back, again!
Jesse just wanted to extend his all star break a few more days before going back to the Braves.
Cheap vet (although he’s technically still arbitration controlled through 27 according to baseball reference… so young vet with control. I’m going to assume he’s out of options (as I post this this article still says more to come). He’s had decent years, but basically he’s just a guy who’s cheap and Braves gave up nothing for. He can eat innings this year for us so we don’t crush our young arms (still need another vet on the roster who can do that at a similar skill lvl) and if he proves anything we still have control. Interesting move. About as low risk move without actually giving up anything and is a temporary bandaid to a bigger problem hopefully
Yay. Someone understands this transaction!
Probably a nothing-burger but very little downside. I think there’s at least a 20% chance of Dunning having a league-average ERA next year.
There’s a better chance Dunning is non-tendered next year.
Good riddance thank goodness. Now get rid of Luke Jackson.
Just ask the Braves, they’ll take Luke back
One more Atlanta DFA for Chavez and he completes his punch card for a free breakfast at Waffle House.
Beats my punchcard: free small De-Caf at Circle-K, and I still have nine more punches to get.
Jesse Chavez has been in and out of the Braves nearly as many times as The Big Show has WWE.
Honestly with the right pitching coach he could actually get everything together for himself
Nah, he’s solid but decidedly average
Decidedly average makes him the Braves #3 starter right now!
91 mph? Hes done
Everybody always says that type of stuff. Idk about this particular case but there is a difference between actual velocity and perceived velocity, deception, movement, speed changes, etc. Trevor Williams has the world’s slowest fastball but there have been many times when it’s been an excellent pitch in his career (like last year). He also gets great extension. Baseball is far more complicated than MPH on a fastball even though that’s where we are at largely today. But even today we have a few pitchers throwing fastballs in the mid to low 80s relying on arm angle and other factors.
Rishi-excellent comment. I’ve seen some guys looking 5 mph faster than the clock. Guys like Sabathia look like their pitch is on top of you before you can react. Arm quickness, extension and shape all count.
They’ve dunning it again. Think Dr. Bellows from IDOJ.
And The crowd goes mild.
@ Dooper
Surprises me that there’s still many that have no idea what u just said there lol.
Surprises me that anyone would care.
Could have had Gibson for nothing. But maybe that was Gibson’s choice…
Stunning MFn Dane Dunning boyeeeee!
Looks like the Braves are in buy mode and going for it. Awesome to see! /s
Change of scenery probably can’t hurt for Dunning. Braves may have been better off with Debbie Dunning however…
Time to retire Jesse. You’re gonna keep getting DFA’d
I’d guess this will be his last season, but it’s a pretty good arrangement for him. Pitch in AAA, get called up occasionally, get DFA’d and sign back in AAA. The stadiums are 40 minutes apart.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the announces he’ll retire after the season soon and the Braves call him up in September so he can get a final appearance and get recognition.
Is this Perry Como?
Gotta be Goulet.
Once again, AA surprises. But I am not surprised that he acquired a starting pitcher. He may very well acquire another. The Braves pitching prospects don’t appear to be ready for the show.
I think Dunning is better than his numbers suggest. Maybe a change of scenery will do him good.
Time for Jed to go get Chavez. Again. He’s got a lot of miles left on that rubber arm.
Consider this the Starting Gun to an ultra-hyped Trading Deadline 🤣
More of these to come !
Dunning was a good soldier while he was here, and he helped us win a World Series. I wish him well.
Braves going for it?
Yes, higher draft pick. Improve lottery odds.
If you are behind Patrick Corbin on the depth chart, it’s a wake-up call that you should be reviewing your MLB retirement benefits. Your time is very short.
Another pitcher that didn’t turn out for the Rangers. Good luck in Atlanta, Dane.
The missing link! 2021 here we go again!
Chavez will be back soon.
As a Rangers fan – Thanks Dane for your incredible work in 2023. We don’t make the postseason without you. After Degrom went down you came in and CRUSHED it. You will always have a WS ring, and will ALWAYS be the Rangers 2023 pitcher of the year they won the World Series.
Also – thanks for giving hope to all us glasses wearers out there!
Blah blah blah is all I hear from you
Collusion
“Dane Dunning”
When Jacob DeGrom went down Dane took over against Baltimore and Houston in the playoffs and 3 games against Arizona in the 2023 World Series, he wasn’t spectacular but he got a few Wins.
Trash swap. Nothing more. Braves liked him enough to trade and keep him off waivers.
Acuna Jr to the Cardinals for Ivan Herrera, Tink Hence, Quinn Mathews and Jordan Walker. The Braves would need to send a prospect back but it could work for both sides. St. Louis gets a slugging outfielder and Atlanta gets a younger DH, 2 top pitching prospects and a young outfielder who has tons of potential. This is an idea I thought of when considering a big need the Cards have is a star outfielder and they have several DH type players on the roster.
@n2:: “The Braves would need to send a prospect back.” You’re kidding, right? Trying to include Walker as if he’s a sought after player w/value? Your maybes and a piece of junk for a top 5 MLB star??? .Acuna trade proposals are always good for a laugh. “Take our unwanted junk that we need to move and we’ll throw in some prospects to even the deal out..”
Dane needs to get over himself.
He’s a bust
A bust? The Rangers won a WS with him. He may not have lived up to expectations this year, but he’s hardly a bust. A change of scenery and pitching coaches may change things.