Inside: A’s acquire left-handed starter Minor from Texas.
The A’s rotation was expected to turn heads going into this season.
Halfway through this 60-game season — with the team stumbling over postponements and injuries on their sprint into postseason contention — it became clear that rotation needed some reinforcements. Enter Mike Minor.
The A’s acquired the left-handed starter Minor from the rival Texas Rangers for two minor leaguers and international slot money. The two players the A’s are sending to Arlington come from their 2019 draft class: third-round pick and outfielder Marcus Smith and 11thround pick third baseman Dustin Smith.
With a rotation that is struggling to find consistency, picking up a starter could help steady the pitching corps for a postseason race. Another factor, said general manager David Forst, was the onslaught of doubleheaders in the A’s immediate future. Due to game postponements against the Rangers (due to the A’s protest), Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners (due to the A’s positive coronavirus test), at least three doubleheaders are in the A’s future next month. Only one has been scheduled — with the Rangers on Sept. 12.
The A’s felt even more urgency to add a sixth starter before the deadline with a packed September schedule.
“We thought he was a good fit now with all the uncertainty going forward,” Forst said. “It was critical we completed this deal. Whether it’s as a starter or a reliever or both, I think he’s going to be very valuable for the last month.”
Minor, 32, is in the final year of a three-year, $28 million contract. In seven starts this year for the Rangers, Minor has a 5.60 ERA with 35 strikeouts and an 0-5 record.
But Minor was a top arm for the Rangers the 2019 season, generating little-to-no hard contact. He had an All-Star caliber season with a 3.59 ERA. Minor’s best start this season came against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 28, in which he threw six shutout innings with six strikeouts against the team with the best record in baseball.
“In general, a look at his stuff revealed there’s not a huge difference in what he’s doing now and what he did last year,” Forst said. “We’re optimistic he has every opportunity to pitch as well as he has prior to his first handful of starts this season.”
After the doubleheaders run out, don’t rule out Minor as a potential half of a tandem down the stretch.
Minor has experience as a reliever, after all. After undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in 2015, Minor signed a two-year deal with the Kansas City Royals, who used him out of the bullpen. He collected a 2.55 ERA in 65 games.
The A’s rotation is brimming with talent that hasn’t yet found its legs. Frankie Montas is struggling to find his mechanics again after an upper-back injury. Sean Manaea and Mike Fiers have struggled most to gain traction. Jesús Luzardo is locking in, which should scare opposing teams, while swingman Chris Bassitt has been the team’s most consistent starter. A.J. Puk, who was slated for the rotation in June, should return from a left shoulder strain and join the bullpen.
“I think we’re going to need more than five starters, bottom line,” Forst said.