The Braves made a small trade this evening to add depth to their bullpen, specifically targeting a multi-inning relief role.
They acquired right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning from the Texas Rangers in exchange for righty Jose Ruiz and cash considerations. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, veteran reliever Jesse Chavez was designated for assignment. The move appears aimed at adding length to the bullpen, and Dunning’s minor league options add extra flexibility, according to FanGraphs.
Dunning owns a career 4.34 ERA, 4.40 FIP, and 4.20 xFIP over 583.1 innings across six MLB seasons. He’s started 102 games in that span, including a 12-win campaign in 2023 with seasons of 1.9 and 2.0 WAR. His repertoire includes a 94 MPH sinker, cutter, changeup, and occasional slider and curveball. I remember watching him pitch in Double-A, where his slider was particularly dominant—batters couldn’t handle it, consistently hitting weak grounders or popups. Unfortunately, he rarely uses that pitch these days.
Dunning will likely be used in upcoming bullpen games to help cover innings. Welcome aboard, Dane!
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