Rangers finally cut bait with failed starter in late-night Braves trade

The farther the Texas Rangers move from the World Series Championship year, the farther the team moves from players on that squad. Late Thursday night, Chris Young and company took another step away from that season with the trading away of Dane Dunning.

Make no mistake, the parting of ways between the Rangers and the pitcher was not a bad move in any way, shape, or form. Dunning, once a very talented pitcher, hasn't been valuable in quite some time.

Texas Rangers trade Dane Dunning to Braves for José Ruiz in late-season bullpen shake-up

The Texas Rangers found someone who was willing to give Dunning a roster spot while acquiring a new reliever who could, in theory, offer some value for a team looking to make a run to the postseason. Dunning was traded to the Atlanta Braves for José Ruiz and cash considerations. Those cash considerations are likely paying the rest of the money the Rangers' reliever was owed.

Dunning, who was on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 with Texas in 2021, had bounced between Triple-A Round Rock and the Big Leagues this season after being designated for assignment by the team but retained on April 30. After being used primarily as a starter during his first four seasons with Texas, he pitched out of the bullpen in all five of his appearances this season, posting a 3.38 ERA. That earned run average didn't show some peripherals that were concerning and kept the team from keeping him on the roster much at all this year.

Ruiz is on his third team already this season. He started the year with the Philadelphia Phillies and then appeared in two games for the Braves.

Between the two teams, Ruiz has posted an ERA over 8.00 and doesn't appear to be anything close to a long-term solution. However, the Texas Rangers are looking for ways to clear some salary off the books. In the meantime, they get to try out a new reliever and see if something clicks.