The Texas Rangers have confirmed the trade of pitcher Dane Dunning to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor league reliever José Ruiz and cash considerations. To accommodate Dunning on the 40-man roster, the Braves designated veteran pitcher Jesse Chavez for assignment.
This move appears to be a strategic salary dump for the Rangers, as Dunning has struggled to maintain a place in their plans over the past couple of seasons. Once a promising first-round pick, Dunning had a productive 2021 season, recording 172 2/3 innings with a solid 3.70 ERA during the Rangers’ World Series run. However, his performance waned significantly in the following season, resulting in a disappointing 5.31 ERA over 95 innings.
Despite being tendered a contract by Texas, Dunning faced a rare pay cut in arbitration to avoid being released. Unfortunately for him, his struggle continued into Spring Training, where he allowed 10 runs in just 11 innings, ultimately leading the Rangers to waive him. Despite an offer for his $2.66 million salary, no other team picked him up, and he spent most of the year in Triple-A.
Dunning’s brief return to the majors this season saw him make five appearances out of the bullpen, yielding four runs in 10 2/3 innings. In the minors, he recorded a better 4.47 ERA over 46 1/3 innings, demonstrating some potential with a 24% strikeout rate against a 9% walk rate.
This trade marks a new chapter for Dunning, who will have an opportunity to prove himself in Atlanta’s system. The Braves are likely hoping he can regain the form that made him a first-round pick, while the Rangers aim to clear salary space and focus on other roster options.
There may still be hope for Dunning to capitalize on this fresh opportunity and potentially find his footing in the major leagues once again.