According to the San Diego Union-Tribune‘s Dennis Lin, the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres “have held preliminary talks” regarding a trade for starting pitcher Andrew Cashner. 

Continue for updates. 

Astros Eyeing Cashner as a Contingency

Friday, July 17

While the Padres have yet to be pegged as certain sellers at the July 31 trade deadline, one contender is sniffing around some of the team’s coveted arms with two weeks to go until deadline day. 

According to Lin, “there are no indications of anything imminent, and one source said the two sides had not spoken on the subject since early this month,” when it comes to Cashner and fellow right-handed arm Tyson Ross. 

Lin added that the Texas Rangers “have been known to have interest” in Cashner. 

While the Astros long been linked to Cincinnati Reds ace Johnny Cueto, who’s set to become an unrestricted free agent after he earns $10 million this season, according to Spotrac.  

The Houston Chronicle‘s Evan Drelliich explained why the Astros prefer Cueto over another available stud like Cole Hamels: 

Sources say a two- to three-month rental pitcher who will become a free agent this winter, or possibly someone whose contract runs for one more year, is the most likely acquisition for the Astros. In other words, Hamels appears a long shot.

Cueto, sources said, is the most attractive potential acquisition to the Astros at the moment.

Friday, Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi reported the Reds “are prepared to trade” Cueto with the trade deadline looming. 

However, if the Astros aren’t willing to pay the high price necessary to obtain Cueto, Cashner makes sense as a fallback plan.

So far this season, Cashner‘s gone 3-10 with a 4.10 ERA while recording 97 strikeouts and 34 walks. According to ESPN.com, Cashner‘s strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.85 ranks 27th among all qualified pitchers.

The 28-year-old may be in the midst of a down year, but he’s still a valuable commodity on an affordable $4 million salary that should be attractive to teams in need of help on the mound. 

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