SURPRISE, Ariz. — Left-hander Mike Minor wasn’t shocked to find out he’d been traded to the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday morning. The veteran had been around long enough to be able to read the room and see that his second stint with the Kansas City Royals was probably short on time.
The Royals traded Minor along with cash to the Red in exchange for left-handed relief pitcher Amir Garrett.
Minor entered camp as the most experienced member of the club’s projected starting rotation, but the Royals also have a bevy of young potential starting pitching options who’ve gotten some experience under their belts or who’ve gotten their feet wet.
“I didn’t know anything, but I just expected it because of the way the team was headed and with all the trades and everything going on right now after the lockout,” Minor told The Star as he grabbed his bags and prepared to leave the clubhouse. “It seemed like a lot of teams were switching players and guys were getting signed.”
Minor, 34, signed a two-year contract with the Royals prior to last season. His previous stint with the club came in 2017 when he pitched entirely in relief coming off of labrum surgery.
Last season, Minor went 8-12 with a 5.50 ERA (89 earned runs in 158 2/3 innings). He led the pitching staff in starts (28), strikeouts (149) and innings pitched. His nine quality starts were tied for the second most behind only Brady Singer.
“The team right now is a lot younger,” Minor said. “I’m making more money than a lot of guys on the team. I think they wanted to shed payroll a little bit and see what the young guys have. There’s a lot of talent there. We saw some of that last year, and then some of those guys coming up late in the year in September. So I think they’re pretty comfortable with what they have.”
Minor’s deal paid him $7 million in 2021, $10 million in 2022 and it included a $13 million option for 2023.
News of the Royals agreeing to a deal with Zack Greinke hadn’t come out at the time Minor spoke to The Star.
Minor’s best recent seasons as a starter came in his first first two seasons with the Rangers (2018-19). He made 60 starts with a 26-18 record and 3.84 ERA in 365 1/3 innings, with 332 strikeouts, a 1.19 WHIP and 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings. In 2019, he made 16 quality starts and recorded a career-best 14 wins in 32 starts on his way to an American League All-Star selection.
“Losing Mikey will be tough,” Royals pitcher Kris Bubic said. “For me, that’s a guy I looked up to being he’s a veteran in the league. He’s left-handed. We’re kind of similar personality-wise and the way we go about things. For me, it will be tough not having him around.
“Even just having one season with him was enough to learn from him, being around him every day, talk to him, pick his brain on certain things. It’ll be tough not having him around, but we’re excited for what’s ahead and welcoming Amir Garrett.”
The Reds have gone through a big roster shakeup this offseason, including several moves since the end of the lockout — such as trading away starting pitcher Sonny Gray, outfielder Jesse Winker and third baseman Eugenio Suarez before swapping Garrett for Minor.
“It’s a good fit for me,” Minor said. “I feel like Cincinnati is a good fit because it’s close to my home. I know the pitching coach over there because he was at Vanderbilt with me, and I know some guys over there. So I feel like it’s a good fit.”
Minor makes his offseason home in Knoxville, Tennessee. So the drive to Cincinnati is only about four hours. As far as spring training goes, their facility in Goodyear, Ariz. is only about a half hour away from the Royals’ facility.
