3 starting pitchers Braves need to trade for at the deadline

Would the Braves be willing to welcome back a familiar face to their rotation? Atlanta has already dipped into the Texas Rangers‘ southpaw well by signing Cole Hamels as a free agent this offseason. While the former World Series champion with the Philadelphia Phillies has yet to play for the Braves, he might be a huge plus for them down the stretch. So too could Mike Minor.

Minor was drafted No. 7 overall out of Vanderbilt University in the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft. From 2010 to 2014, Minor went 38-36 in 110 starts for Atlanta, boasting a 4.10 ERA and collecting 566 punch outs. After dealing with a myriad of injuries, Minor returned as a member of the 2017 Kansas City Royals. Since 2018, he’s called Arlington, Texas his professional baseball home.

Minor was a first-time MLB All-Star with the 2019 Rangers. He set a career-high with 14 wins, pitching eerily similar to what he displayed in his Atlanta peak back in 2013. Though he has struggled out of the gate for the Rangers, with an 0-3 record in three starts with a 6.89 ERA, we have reason to believe he’s ERA will dip to his career average of 3.94 at some point here soon.

While the Rangers have a sub-.500 record at 6-8, they would get into the AL postseason by virtue of having the second best record in the AL West by only half a game. However, the in-state rival Houston Astros are only half a game back of them at 6-9 through 15 games. If the Rangers go on a losing streak in the coming weeks, don’t be shocked if Minor is moved in the last year of his deal.