Red Sox Rumors: 5 starting pitchers to target before MLB trade deadline

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ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 25: Mike Minor #23 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the third inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 25, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

Mike Minor

This again assumes that the Rangers raise the white flag by becoming deadline sellers. That’s hardly a given at the moment but if they do open up for business, Mike Minor is another starting pitcher to target.

Minor is 8-4 with a 2.54 ERA that ranks second among AL starters. That’s even more impressive when you consider his hitter-friendly home ballpark and these results earned him his first All-Star appearance.

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The ERA is due for some regression considering his 3.77 FIP and track record. The 31-year old has only posted an ERA under 4.00 as a starter once in his career.

On the other hand, Minor was beginning to emerge with a breakout year in 2013 before injuries derailed his career. His disastrous 2014 season (4.77 ERA) can be chalked up to pitching through shoulder discomfort that eventually required surgery that sidelined him for the next two years.

Minor signed with the Kansas City Royals in 2017 and pitched well out of their bullpen. He moved back to the rotation when he joined the Rangers last year, going 12-4 with a 4.18 ERA. Not bad for a guy who hadn’t started a major league game in over three years.

Some improvement was expected in his second full season back in the rotation. Maybe not this good, but Minor is clearly talented enough to be an upgrade in anyone’s rotation.

Minor is signed for a reasonable $9.83 million next year before he hits free agency. That could entice the Rangers to hang on to him but you can’t blame them if they decide to sell high either.

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