Dunning elected to become a free agent Thursday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
After being removed from Atlanta's 40-man roster, Dunning has exercised his right to free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. The 30-year-old swingman has managed just a 5.60 ERA over 15 starts and 23 relief appearances at the big-league level since 2024.
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Braves' Dane Dunning: Removed from 40-man
Rotowire
Dunning cleared waivers Wednesday and was outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Dunning pitched 10 innings for Atlanta after joining the organization in July, during which he surrendered 12 earned runs while striking out 11 batters and walking two. The 30-year-old will have the option to elect free agency, though his recent performance may not attract more than a minor-league contract.
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Braves' Dane Dunning: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Atlanta optioned Dunning to Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday.
Dunning has struggled in a mop-up role with Atlanta, posting a 10.80 ERA over seven appearances. His spot on the roster and in the bullpen will be absorbed by Jhancarlos Lara.
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Braves' Dane Dunning: Rejoins big-league bullpen
Rotowire
Atlanta recalled Dunning from Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.
Atlanta's bullpen saw heavy use over the previous two days, so Dunning will join the big club to provide a fresh relief arm. He's allowed 13 runs over 17.1 innings covering 10 appearances in the majors between Texas and Atlanta in 2025.
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Braves' Dane Dunning: Sent back to Triple-A
Rotowire
Atlanta optioned Dunning to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.
Dunning spent 48 hours up with the major-league club during his latest recall. He's pitched in five games out of the bullpen for Atlanta this season, registering a 12.15 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 8:2 K:BB across 6.2 innings of work.
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Braves' Dane Dunning: Back up with big club
Rotowire
Atlanta recalled Dunning from Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.
Dunning has been torched for nine runs over 5.2 innings during his time with Atlanta. He will give the bullpen some length.
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Braves' Dane Dunning: Effective Atlanta debut
Rotowire
Dunning gave up one run on two hits and a walk over three innings of relief in Sunday's loss to the Yankees. He struck out two.
The veteran righty was acquired from the Rangers to provide a beleaguered Atlanta bullpen with some length, and Dunning did exactly that in his debut for the team. With only two healthy, reliable starters in the rotation in Spencer Strider and Grant Holmes, who took the loss in a quality start Sunday, Dunning figures to see plenty of action over the final months of the season. Through 13.2 big-league innings this season over six relief appearances between Texas and Atlanta, the 30-year-old has a 3.29 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB.
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Braves' Dane Dunning: Ticketed for long relief
Rotowire
Dunning is expected to work out of the bullpen for Atlanta, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
While the team is in need of starting pitching depth, Dunning will instead fill a long-relief role once he joins the big-league roster, providing length behind what will likely be a parade of unproven or unreliable arms in the rotation during the second half of the season. The 30-year-old right-hander has made five MLB appearances for the Rangers in 2025, all in relief, and posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 10:5 K:BB over 10.2 innings.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Rejoins big club
Rotowire
The Rangers recalled Dunning from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday.
The right-hander was optioned to Round Rock on Friday but will make a quick return to the majors with Evan Carter (personal) being placed on the bereavement list. Dunning has made just two appearances with the Rangers this season and has a 4.47 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 49:18 K:BB across 46.1 innings at Triple-A.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Sent back to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Rangers optioned Dunning to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.
Dunning's demotion makes room on the 26-man roster for Nathan Eovaldi (triceps), who was reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of his start against the Mariners on Friday. Dunning worked out of the Rangers' bullpen against the Orioles on Monday, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out two batters across two innings.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Rangers outrighted Dunning to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Dunning passed through waivers unclaimed, with his $2.66 million salary likely being a major reason why. He will remain in the organization and could be used in the Round Rock rotation.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Makes first spring start
Rotowire
Dunning allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one over two innings in Tuesday's spring start against the Athletics.
After a pair of two-inning outings out of the bullpen, Dunning made his first Cactus League start. The Rangers plan to stretch him out and see where Dunning fits on the roster later in March, Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports. The 2023 version of Dunning was a valuable starter and earned the team's Pitcher of the Year award, but the right-hander went the other way in 2024 and was removed from the rotation by mid-June.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Reaches deal with Texas
Rotowire
Dunning signed a one-year, $2.66 million contract with the Rangers on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Dunning's 2025 salary represents a $670,000 pay cut from 2024, though he'll have opportunities to earn more money through incentives. It's not too surprising to see the 29-year-old righty receive a lower base salary after putting up a career-worst 5.31 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over 95 innings.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Fill-in starter
Rotowire
Dunning is listed as the probable pitcher for Saturday's game against the Mariners.
Dunning replaces Max Scherzer (undisclosed) as the Rangers' starter. Dunning will be making his first MLB appearance since Aug. 30, but the 29-year-old is relatively stretched out, having thrown between 56 and 72 pitches in his last three appearances with Triple-A Round Rock. He has a 5.03 ERA and 74:31 K:BB across 68 innings in 14 starts with the Rangers this season.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Works out of bullpen Saturday
Rotowire
Dunning was used in relief in Saturday's 13-5 loss to the Guardians, tossing one inning while allowing one earned run on two hits.
Dunning had started in both of his previous two appearances, but he looks set to operate as a reliever moving forward with the Rangers expected to call up Jack Leiter from Triple-A Round Rock during the upcoming week to serve as a temporary fifth member of the rotation until at least one of Tyler Mahle (shoulder), Jacob deGrom (elbow) or Max Scherzer (shoulder) returns from the injured list. In his last start Monday against the Pirates, Dunning averaged just 88.1 miles per hour with his fastball, and he didn't notice much of a bump in velocity Saturday despite moving to the bullpen. He maxed out at 90.3 mph and failed to generate a swinging strike from any of the four batters he faced.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Removed due to dip in velocity
Rotowire
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that Dunning was removed after four innings in his start during Monday's 4-3 win over the Pirates because he was displaying diminished velocity and spin on his pitches, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The right-hander averaged just 88.1 miles per hour with his fastball in the outing, which was down nearly two ticks from his season average. Bochy noted that he doesn't think Dunning is dealing with an injury, and the right-hander doesn't appear in line to undergo any testing. Dunning is tentatively slated for a start this weekend in Cleveland, but it's possible those plans could change.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Lasts four frames in no-decision
Rotowire
Dunning did not factor into the decision in Monday's 4-3 win against Pittsburgh, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk over four innings. He struck out four.
The Rangers right-hander pitched well through three scoreless innings before unraveling in the fourth, when the Pirates knocked three hits, capped by Jared Triolo a three-run homer. The long ball once again undid Dunning in this start, as he has allowed 13 homers across 68 innings over 14 starts (1.7 HR/9) while yielding just two over 18.1 relief innings (1.0 HR/9). Overall, the 29-year-old has pitched to a 5.00 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 85:39 K:BB this season. Jose Urena picked up the win Thursday in relief while Max Scherzer (shoulder) and Jacob deGrom (elbow) are both rehabbing their injuries, so Dunning's place in the Texas rotation is unsteady. If he remains a starter, the righty lines up to make his next outing against the Guardians on the road this weekend.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Garnering start Monday
Rotowire
Dunning will start Monday's contest against the Pirates.
The choice seemed to come down to Dunning or Jose Urena and the Rangers have opted for the former. Dunning has been deployed as a swingman this season and this will be his second appearance in a row as a starter after he allowed four runs over five frames last week versus the Red Sox. While Dunning could earn additional turns in the rotation, his spot is tenuous with Max Scherzer (shoulder) and Jacob deGrom (elbow) lurking.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: No-decision in Wednesday's start
Rotowire
Dunning came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 9-7 extra-inning win over the Red Sox, giving up four runs on five hits and a walk over five-plus innings. He struck out three.
Making his first start since June 16, Dunning was able to give the Rangers a solid 76 pitches (48 strikes), but he ran out of gas in the sixth inning and got the hook after serving up a Wilyer Abreu solo shot and a Masataka Yoshida single to begin the frame. With Jose Urena struggling and Texas dealing with multiple injuries to starting pitchers, Dunning's performance might have been good enough to keep him in the rotation for at least one more turn, but his 4.92 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 81:38 K:BB through 82.1 innings innings don't inspire a lot of confidence from a fantasy perspective.
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Rangers' Dane Dunning: Drawing start Wednesday
Rotowire
Dunning will start Wednesday's game in Boston.
Dunning's last eight appearances have all come in relief, although he has been stretched out to more than 60 pitches a couple times over that span. His last appearance came Sunday when he threw two innings against the Yankees, so he likely won't be asked to work deep into Wednesday's outing.
