The Atlanta Braves are officially in scramble mode when it comes to their pitching — and they just added a new piece to the puzzle. Late Thursday night, the Braves pulled off a trade with the Texas Rangers, acquiring right-hander Dane Dunning in exchange for reliever José Ruiz and cash considerations.
In a corresponding move that feels more like a formality at this point, veteran reliever Jesse Chavez was designated for assignment again. If history has taught us anything, don’t bet against Chavez showing back up in a Braves uniform sometime around, say, next Tuesday.
Dunning Brings Versatility — and a Stretchable Arm
Dunning’s been a bit of a Swiss Army knife for the Rangers this season, appearing in five big-league games, all in long relief. He’s posted a solid 3.38 ERA over 10 2/3 innings, twice giving Texas as many as three innings in a single outing. The pitcher also spent time in Triple-A, where he’s primarily started, logging 11 starts in 12 appearances with a 4.47 ERA.
He’s topped out around 70 pitches down in Round Rock, and while he’s not ready to give Atlanta a full starter’s workload today, the Braves clearly believe he can be stretched out further. That’s the key here. With half the rotation currently on the shelf, Dunning doesn’t need to be an ace — he just needs to be a steady, flexible option who can cover innings and potentially slot in for spot starts.
Why This Move Matters For the Braves
The Braves are staring down one of the hottest offenses in baseball this weekend with the Yankees rolling into Truist Park. Spencer Strider is locked in for Friday, Joey Wentz will take the ball Saturday, and Grant Holmes gets the nod Sunday. After that? It’s chaos.
The team has already lost Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, Reynaldo López, and AJ Smith-Shawver to long-term injuries. Sale and Schwellenbach could return later this season. López might come back in a bullpen role. Smith-Shawver is done until at least late 2026 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
That’s a rotation unraveling at the seams — and that’s where Dunning’s arrival becomes so valuable. He’s ready to go multiple innings out of the bullpen, and if the Braves need him to transition to a starter role down the stretch, there’s a path to get him there.
Ruiz Out, Dunning In — A Logical Swap
José Ruiz, who came to Atlanta earlier this season, heads to Texas with a 6.08 ERA across 23 appearances. He was always more of a depth arm, and with the Braves’ current rotation emergency, flipping him for a more versatile piece like Dunning is a savvy move.
The Dunning deal doesn’t solve all of Atlanta’s problems, but it does give them a live arm who can bridge the gap between now and whatever reinforcements come later in the season. He can eat innings, potentially start, and give manager Brian Snitker a little breathing room.
And given the way this Braves rotation has been tested — and tested again, don’t be surprised if this is just the first of a few moves Alex Anthopoulos makes before the trade deadline. The arms race in Atlanta is officially on.
