Padres Rumors: Five Potential Landing Spots for Andrew Cashner
Credit: USA Today Sports
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays have a young staff and are looking for a veteran arm in the middle of the rotation. Cashner fits the mold and there have been reports the two teams have had preliminary discussions regarding him. The Blue Jays farm system is not in the best shape presently but there are some players that could interest the Padres. Cashner will not be just given away, contrary to what some Padres fans believe. That compensation pick has a lot to do with it as the team refuses to part with the big right hander at a discounted rate. A.J. Preller wants to get a good return for Cashner and it seems likely he will do so if he remains patient.
The Jays have left-handed reliever Chad Girodo who could be of interest. He made his major league debut this season and has a 4.35 ERA in 14 games. The 25-year-old has great control and an above average slider. He is extremely effective against lefties and could be a nice part of a bullpen with a little more seasoning. Jon Harris is a right handed starting pitcher who is 8-3 this year with a 2.61 ERA in 17 minor league starts in A-Ball. The 22-year-old has a deep repertoire of pitches but is still learning to command them. He has a mid 90’s fastball, a tight breaking slider and a decent change up. His curve ball is serviceable but he does need to refine the pitch if he wishes to excel in the game.
Miami Marlins
The Marlins already gave up Chris Paddack for Fernando Rodney earlier this season. The Padres could end up shipping Cashner to south Florida as well if the Marlins ante up. The Marlins are having a surprising year and could use some help in the rotation. Cashner is no given, but again, the market for starting pitchers is really weak. The big Texan has all the ability in the world but has never put it all together. Perhaps he can do that for the Marlins. One thing would be interesting if Cashner was dealt to the Marlins. They have a strict no facial hair rule and that would be certainly be news worthy. Let’s take a look at what the Marlins have to offer as the deadline draws closer.
The Marlins have a pitcher a named Cody Poteet who could be of interest. The right handed starter is 4-7 this year with a 2.95 ERA in 91.2 innings pitched in A-Ball. He has struck out 89 and walked 36 in his 19 starts. The 21-year-old was the Marlins 4th round pick in 2015 out of UCLA and has a deep arsenal of pitches. Another player to keep an eye on is Jake Esch. The shortstop converted to a pitcher has an excellent fastball and in reality is still learning the game. He is 26 and made it all the way to Triple-A last season. This season the right hander has been in Double-A all year and is 10-7 in 20 starts with a 3,80 ERA. The Padres could refine him even more and he could be a mid-level starter eventually.
Baltimore Orioles
It recent days it has been reported that the Orioles and Padres have discussed a deal for Melvin Upton Jr. Within those talks word is that the Orioles have also asked about Andrew Cashner. The O’s have a huge need in the rotation and Cashner could fill a big void for them. Ubaldo Jimenez has been a wreck for the Orioles and his name has been rumored in a potential Padres deal. It remains to be seen if the Padres value Jimenez at all. They could view him as a reclamation project and someone who they could buy low on. It remains to be seen if Jimenez can regain his lost velocity and gain some control with his arsenal. Daren Balsley could surely help, but he is not a miracle worker. Cashner on the other hand would step right in to the middle of the O’s rotation.
These teams could match up on a pretty decent deal. The O’s need some help for their playoff run and the Padres have both Upton and Cashner that are attractive to the team. You could also argue that the team could be interested in Brandon Maurer, Ryan Buchter and Brad Hand to solidify their bullpen. The return depends on how much money the Padres would eat on an Upton deal. Jomar Reyes makes a ton of sense, but he is one of the O’s best prospects. The power hitting third baseman is 19 and in High A-Ball. The right handed hitter is very raw but has an excellent ceiling. It would take a huge return for the Padres to land him. LHP Tanner Scott makes sense and has been rumored to be a player the Padres covet. The fireball throwing reliever is very raw but at 22 is a little further developed than some of the Padres pitching prospects. Keep an eye on his name as well.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.
Not sure I see how the Rangers “need starting pitching really bad…?”
They have a rotation that includes: Hamels, Darvish, Perez and “San Diego’s own” Aj Griffin (all of whom are inarguably better than Cashner).
Not to mention, they just traded for Harrell (who has pitched well in a small sample size).
Can’t fathom why the Rangers would give-up much for a guy like Cashner (who likely wouldn’t even pitch in a playoff series…unless willing to move to the bullpen).