The Rangers have waved Dane Dunning. Teams have forty-eight hours in which to make a claim for him. They must pick up the entirety of his $2.66 million salary.

Texas acquired Dunning in a trade with the Chicago White Sox for Lance Lynn in 2021. He had been a first-round draft pick and was the White Sox’s top prospect when that deal was made. Since coming to the Rangers, Dunning has been a workhorse, always seemingly banished to the bullpen but because of rotation injuries, alway being thrust into a starter’s role.

In fact, in 2023, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy called Dunning the team’s savior because of how effectively he filled in when Jacob deGrom went down. In twenty-six start, he went 10-7 with a 3.55 ERA. But when the post-season came around, he was mostly forgotten about. pitching just seven total innings over three games, mostly in non-crutial situations.

Last year, Dunning’s ERA ballooned to 5.31 as he ended up losing a spot in the rotation. Due to his performance this spring, he’s now lost his spot in the Rangers.

Dunning is the victim of both lackluster pitching and the Rangers insistence on staying under the luxury tax threshold. Shedding his salary gives them more wiggle room to maneuver in case they would need to make a deal at the deadline.

Still no word if Leody Taveras and his salary will suffer the same fate.

*****

TODAY’S CACTUS LEAGUE GAME:

Kansas City vs Texas, in Arlington, 7:05

Television: Rangers Sports Network, Victory+ Radio: 105.3 FM