Minor 'not convinced' Deadline deal looms
OAKLAND -- Rangers pitcher Mike Minor has a partial no-trade clause in his contract, allowing him to block a deal to 10 specified teams.
Minor declined to reveal the 10 teams, although the Yankees are believed to be on the list. Minor did say he will not be afraid to exercise the clause if he feels it’s the right thing for his family.
“It just depends what the situation is,” Minor said. “I have that right, that’s why it’s in there. Sometimes players get bashed for it. Fans or media might say something about it, but I played long enough, I have the right to exercise it if it comes up. If it’s not a good fit for me or my family, yeah.”
The Yankees have been prominently mentioned as a team that needs starting pitching, and their interest in Minor could be even higher now that the Mets have reportedly acquired right-hander Marcus Stroman from the Blue Jays. The Braves are also looking for pitching, and Minor would welcome a trade to Atlanta, where he spent his first five Major League seasons. But there is no indication yet if the Braves are willing to trade some of their young pitching prospects, including right-handers Kyle Wright and Ian Anderson.
The Twins have also asked about Minor, according to MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi.
The Trade Deadline is 3 p.m. CT Wednesday. Minor was scheduled to pitch on Tuesday against the Mariners, but the Rangers moved him back to Wednesday night so the Deadline is not a distraction.
“Only because of me getting two extra days … I’m not a fan,” said Minor, who last pitched on Wednesday in Seattle. “If I get traded and they tell me I’m pitching on Friday, then I get like 10 days.”
The wait continues. The Rangers need more prospects in the upper levels of their farm system and are hoping that another club will meet their demands. If not, the Rangers are content to keep Minor, who is signed through 2020 at $9.83 million.
Minor was asked before Sunday’s game with the Athletics if he expected to be traded.
“I’m not convinced, but I’m ready if it does happen,” Minor said. “We have been talking about it forever so it wouldn’t be surprising to me. It wouldn’t blindside me.”
He has talked to Texas general manager Jon Daniels and got the same feeling that has been out there for the past few weeks.
“It could happen, it could not,” Minor said. “I don’t know. Really don’t.”
Rangers acquire pitcher
The Rangers have acquired Minor League right-hander Ian Gibaut from the Rays for a player to be named later. To make room on the 40-man roster, left-hander Jesse Biddle was placed on the 60-day injured list.
Gibaut, another power arm with a 95-mph fastball, pitched in 11 games at Triple-A Durham and was 1-0 with a 3.48 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. He made one appearance for the Rays on July 12 and allowed two runs in two innings against the Orioles.
Over five professional seasons, Gibaut, who was ranked as Tampa Bay's No. 30 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has a 2.29 ERA, 1.139 WHIP and 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings over 155 games and 216 innings. He has been assigned to Triple-A Nashville.