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The team announced today that the Texas Rangers have eliminated Mike Minor from his scheduled start Sunday and Joe Palumbo will be replaced. The Rangers say it's just to give Minor a longer break before the second half.
It's a curious decision. Shane Bieber has already replaced Miner in star alignment. It is not expected to launch Tuesday. He was scheduled to play against the Astros on Saturday after the All Star Break, which would be a day more than a normal rest should he start Sunday. And since the Rangers are in the playoff race, you'd think the Rangers would like to maximize their starts, especially against a team like Minnesota.
As the Rangers point out, if you are not injured, you have to immediately ask yourself if there is potential for commercial exchange. Minor – having a season-long Cy Young Award and under contract until 2020 at low prices – was considered one of the most attractive options in the market of potential buyers. And the Houston Astros – a team lacking deep casting – had just lost Corbin Martin following a Tommy John operation, while the New York Yankees were potentially deprived of Luis Severino until the month of April. August and the Boston Red Sox now have a hole in their rotation with the decision to move Nathan Eovaldi to the paddock.
The decision to skip Minor could be just what the Rangers said – an opportunity to give him a little more rest. But it's weird and it's not surprising that there are other problems at work. It's something to watch for.
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