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Minnesota Twins Starting Pitcher Trades

By Michael Crow

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 28: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants reacts after the Giants got the final out of the sixth inning, in which the Arizona Diamondbacks had the bases loaded but were unable to score, at AT&T Park on August 28, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 28: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants reacts after the Giants got the final out of the sixth inning, in which the Arizona Diamondbacks had the bases loaded but were unable to score, at AT&T Park on August 28, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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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)
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 of the Texas Rangers, unlike the previous two pitchers,  is an older veteran and signed through 2020. Minor also is currently in the midst of a career season with a 2.74 earned run average, near career bests in most other stats as well.  Minor is not without baggage however, he missed the entire 2015 & 2016 seasons with various shoulder injuries and surgery.

Since returning in 2017 Minor hasn’t had significant issues with his shoulder. In 2017 he worked out of the bullpen for the Kansas City Royals before moving to starter in 2018 when he signed with the Rangers. In 2018 he started 28 games, pitching 157 and staying healthy. Most interesting is that Minor got stronger and stronger as the season went on and in his last eight starts had a 2.89 earned run average, very similar to this season’s.

It appears that Minor is finally healthy and back to peak arm fitness and he’s among the best pitchers in the league thus far in 2019. The Twins would get a Co-Ace for about $13m over the next two seasons. Minor could cost the Twins a top 10 prospect plus either a major league pitcher (perhaps Pineda) or another prospect in the top 20.

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