Kansas City Royals Potential Non-Tender Targets

Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s go back to September 20, 2014. That was the last time that Mike Minor threw a pitch, as he lasted only one inning in his final start for the Atlanta Braves. He had shoulder issues that sidelined him on three different occasions in 2014, and missed all of last season after surgery on his shoulder. However, that most recent surgery is said to have cleared up the mystery of what had been causing his injury woes.

When healthy, Minor has been a solid middle of the rotation starter. Throughout his career, he posted a 38-36 record with a 4.10 ERA and a 1.266 WHiP, striking out 566 batters against 187 walks in 65.2 innings of work. His injury issues in 2014 likely contributed to his less than stellar season, as Minor had a 6-12 record with a 4.77 ERA and a 1.438 WHiP.

An extreme fly ball pitcher, who has had a roughly 2:1 fly ball to ground ball ratio in his career, Minor would benefit from playing for the Kansas City Royals. With their focus on defense, and the spacious grounds of Kauffman Stadium, Minor could potentially see a rebound in performance, turning into another Jason Vargas.

The key with Mike Minor is how healthy his shoulder is. Should everything truly be back to normal, and he is ready to pitch in 2016, Minor could be a great buy-low option. With two years of team control, he could be a nice fit at the back of the Royals rotation.

Next: A former All-Star ready to blossom

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