Braves Acquire Veteran Pitcher Dunning

The Atlanta Braves have made a notable addition to their team by signing pitcher Dane Dunning from the Texas Rangers for cash considerations and reliever Jose Lewis, as announced on Thursday night.

To make space on their roster, the Braves designated 41-year-old Jesse Chavez for assignment.

Dunning, now 30, was part of the Texas team that won the World Series in 2023. He made 26 starts that season, boasting a 3.70 ERA before appearing in six postseason games.

This year marked the best performance of Dunning’s six-season MLB career. He had been with the Round Rock Express, the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate, after a tough 2024 season where he recorded a 5.31 ERA over 95 innings. Yes, he struggled quite a bit, and to think he had spent the entirety of that season in the minors is telling.

After a challenging spring training, he didn’t make the Rangers’ Opening Day roster, leading to the decision to let him go while looking for another team to take on his $2.66 million salary.

Joining the Braves could provide Dunning with a chance to secure a rotation spot, especially since several pitchers like Chris Sale and others are absent.

In contrast, Jose Lewis has had a mixed season, pitching 16.1 innings across his ninth MLB year, which included stints with both the Phillies and the Braves. Last season with Philadelphia, he boasted a respectable 3.71 ERA over 51 innings, which, to be fair, is a solid figure.

The timing of this trade, just two weeks before the MLB trade deadline on July 31, raises eyebrows. There’s chatter about the Braves potentially moving players, especially given their record of 42-53, sitting 9.5 games behind in the race for the National League’s final wildcard spot. There could be some decisions on offloading costly rentals ahead.