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Andrew Cashner turned in arguably the worst season of his career in 2016, but the Texas Rangers took a chance on him Friday to the tune of a one-year, $10 million contract.

Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported the terms of the agreement. TR Sullivan of MLB.com also passed along word of the free-agent signing.

Cashner started his career with the Chicago Cubs and pitched down the stretch of the 2016 season for the Miami Marlins after they acquired him from the San Diego Padres via trade. He posted a 5.98 ERA and 1.75 WHIP in 12 appearances for Miami, which both would have represented career-worst numbers throughout an entire season.

However, Cashner flashed his potential as a No. 2 or 3 starter in 2013 and 2014 with the Padres. He posted a 1.13 WHIP in each season and appeared to be coming into his own as an impact pitcher at the major league level. Still, there was a drastic decline in performance the next two years:

Injuries are part of the concern, as he went on disabled list in 2016 with a strained neck and dealt with a shoulder injury and elbow injury in 2014 that limited him to just 19 starts. Considering he hasn’t been the same since that 2014 campaign, it is not hard to speculate his health impacted his overall performance.

At his best, Cashner’s fastball often exceeds 95 mph, per FanGraphs. If he can remain healthy in 2017 and tap into the effective power pitcher he was from 2013-14, the Rangers will end up with one of the better under-the-radar signings of the offseason. 

He’ll likely join a rotation headlined by Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish. Finding more mid-rotation options to bolster the group behind those co-aces was one of the biggest things on the team’s offseason to-do list. A bounce-back year from the newest addition would be a key step in the right direction.

He is still just 30 years old and should be relatively fresh considering he has never pitched more than 184.2 innings in a season throughout his career. Cashner’s new team hopes that translates into an effective 2017 effort.  

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The 2016 MLB trade deadline is approaching quickly, and teams are scrambling to fill their biggest needs.

The non-waiver trade deadline is August 1 this year, pushed back a day from the usual deadline due to the fact that July 31 falls on a Sunday. 

It’s been a relatively quiet week so far, but there are still a number of big names on the market who could be on the move this weekend. Here’s a look at the latest rumors around some impact players on the block:

Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox

While the Chicago White Sox are listening to offers for their ace Chris Sale, there haven’t been any concrete rumors linking him to any teams with a serious interest. However, Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball has reported that the New York Yankees are the latest team to enter the discussions. 

Heyman notes that while the Yankees are sellers this year, having already parted with closer Aroldis Chapman, they now have the farm-system depth to pursue another blockbuster trade. 

Even if the Yankees aren’t contenders in 2016, they can reasonably pursue Sale due to the fact that he’s under contract through the 2019 season. According to Spotrac, he is set to earn $39.5 million over the next three seasons—a relatively modest sum for a legitimate ace. 

Heyman also mentions the Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers among the teams with the ability to put together a package to potentially acquire Sale.

Andrew Cashner, San Diego Padres

Perhaps the best indication of just how weak the trade market is for starting pitchers is this update from Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal:

Sources: #Orioles trying hard to get Cashner. Not necessarily front-runner; #Marlins, #Rangers still in, possibly others.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 28, 2016

It’s hard to believe anyone would be “trying hard” to snag Cashner, who is 10-23 with a 4.47 ERA over the past two seasons, while calling Petco Park—one of the most pitcher-friendly stadiums—home. 

That said, it’s easy to see why a pitching-deprived team like the Orioles would be making every effort to find even a marginal upgrade. The Orioles are desperately trying to replace Ubaldo Jimenez and his 7.06 ERA and may also want an upgrade over Yovani Gallardo (5.37 ERA) and Tyler Wilson (4.98 ERA). 

Due to his modest numbers and the fact that he hits the free-agent market at the end of the season, the Padres likely aren’t asking for much in return for Cashner.

Jonathan Lucroy, Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy remains one of the biggest bats on the trade market. 

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reported that the Cleveland Indians are interested, while Rosenthal has added that the New York Mets and Detroit Tigers are among the teams talking to Milwaukee. 

Based on the number of teams interested in Lucroy and the lack of other impact catchers on the trade market, the Brewers could be in position to drag out the discussions in an effort to squeeze a blockbuster offer out of one of the interested franchises. 

Further increasing Lucroy’s value is the fact that he’s under contract for the 2017 season for just $5.25 million.

Daniel Hudson, Arizona Diamondbacks

According to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, the Arizona Diamondbacks are on the verge of dealing reliever Daniel Hudson. 

Hudson was lights out early this season, posting a 1.55 ERA with a .130 opponents batting average through his first 30 games, according to Baseball-reference.com. In recent weeks, however, Hudson has fallen flat. 

Over the course of his past 12 outings, according to the same source, Hudson has surrendered 25 runs in just eight innings of work. 

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that three teams have “heavy interest” in Hudson, but he did not name the teams. 

The Cleveland Indians and Washington Nationals are among the teams who have been linked to other relievers and may have an interest in Hudson as a cheaper option to some of the other names on the market. 

Due to his struggles and his expiring contract, Hudson should come with a relatively cheap price tag.

Contract and salary information courtesy of Spotrac, unless otherwise noted. 

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The tenures of Andrew Cashner and Colin Rea with the San Diego Padres have come to an end, as the team announced the pitchers were traded to the Miami Marlins on Friday

ESPN’s Buster Olney was the first to report the move, with Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports confirming the deal. Rosenthal reported that pitcher Tayron Guerrero was traded to Miami along with Cashner and Rea. In return, San Diego received Jarred Cosart, Josh Naylor, Luis Castillo and pitcher Carter Capps.

Miami entered play Friday five games out of first place in the National League East and in a tie with the St. Louis Cardinals for the second wild-card spot.

Acquiring Cashner and Rea gives the Marlins starting rotation depth behind ace Jose Fernandez, which is desperately needed in order to make a deep playoff run. Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported that one reason for Miami’s move for Cashner and Rea is because Fernandez’s innings are “likely to be restricted.”

This season continues the downward spiral for the Padres, though at least they have now taken steps toward rebuilding for the future by trading James Shields and Drew Pomeranz before shipping Cashner to the Marlins. 

Cashner was one of the “old” veterans in San Diego, playing with the franchise since being acquired in a deal with the Chicago Cubs in January 2012. He has dealt with injuries and inconsistency throughout his career.

This season has been problematic for Cashner, who owns a 4-7 record with a 4.76 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 67 strikeouts in 79.1 innings.

He has shown signs of life recently, though, allowing one earned run in three of his past five starts.

Even so, there are glaring red flags that Cashner’s new team has to consider. He’s made more than 25 starts in a season only twice in his career and has never come close to hitting 200 innings.

Pitching primarily in Petco Park should have kept Cashner’s ERA totals down, but he had an ERA over 4.00 in 2012 and is far beyond that number this season. He was excellent in 2013 and in 2014, however, with a combined 2.87 ERA in 50 games.

Rea is 26 years old and in the middle of his first full season as a starter at the major league level. He is 5-5 with a 4.98 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 76 strikeouts in 99.1 innings.

This is a classic buy-low trade for Miami that could look like a bargain at the end of this season. Cashner has his work cut out to reach his full potential, but the talent is there for him to be a good investment at a low cost.

He is set to hit free agency at the conclusion of the season, so this move looks to be a pure rental meant to push the Marlins over the top and into the playoffs for the first time since 2003.

While Cashner isn’t having a great year by any means, Miami’s starting rotation is likely its biggest weakness. Fernandez is unhittable at times, and Adam Conley has performed well behind him. But Tom Koehler has struggled, while Wei-Yin Chen is on the disabled list.

The Marlins desperately need an arm capable of eating innings and keeping them in games. Rea provides some insurance in that regard, and if Cashner can stay healthy down the stretch and maintain his recent form, then he should at least give the team some solid outings at a reasonable price.

Stats via FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.

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There are just a few days left before Major League Baseball’s August 1 non-waiver trade deadline, and the rumor mill is replete with tidbits regarding some of the best players in the league.

With their starting rotation in tatters and the NL West lead in sight, the Los Angeles Dodgers are ready to make moves and acquire a front-line starting pitcher. Should that pitcher be Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale, the Dodgers are reportedly not above parting with a top prospect, according to the New York Post‘s Joel Sherman: 

As of Monday, the Dodgers’ sense was the White Sox were not yet motivated to move Chris Sale or even well-regarded No. 2 starter Jose Quintana. But I have heard if that changes, the Dodgers would be more aggressive with Sale than they were with Hamels, up to including top prospect, lefty Julio Urias, to front a strong package. The Dodgers would not include Urias for Hamels last July.

This would be quite the blockbuster deal if it went down. Sale is one of the best starting pitchers in the league, and Urias is perhaps the most highly regarded prospect in the league. With that said, it would be tough to see the 19-year-old go.

Former Dodger and current Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke once called Urias “the most perfect pitching prospect I’ve ever seen,” per Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.

The kid already throws four pitches well, all of them at different speeds. He has ultra-smooth mechanics, is left-handed and improved upon a rocky introduction to the majors before being sent back down to the minors on Friday. All of this as a teenager.

But the Dodgers are interested in winning right now. They’re sporting the league’s highest payroll and yet fighting against injuries and poor production in some spots to keep this from being a write-off year. Falling out of the NL West chase or missing out on a wild-card spot would be unacceptable.

Since Urias isn’t quite ready for prime time, it’s understandable that the Dodgers might be willing to part with him for a pitcher like Sale.

Sale, also a lefty, is 14-3 on the year with a 3.18 ERA and 1.008 WHIP, per Baseball-Reference.com. He’s made the All-Star Game five years running. 

Not that it matters a whole lot to the cash-rich Dodgers, but Sale’s contract is highly favorable. He’s owed $12 million in 2017, per Spotrac, and has club options for the next two seasons. He’s not a rental, and he’s a sure thing as far as talent and production go, whereas Urias, for all the praise, is still just a potential sure thing.

Of course, Sale’s recent, bizarre jersey-cutting incident that earned him a five-game suspension isn’t going to endear him to prospective suitors—unless they’re convinced it’s nothing more than a principled manifestation of his insatiable desire to win.

If the Dodgers are indeed willing to dangle Urias, it can only be for a player of Sale’s caliber. However, Urias‘ potential is so great that it’s more likely the Dodgers either try to work a trade without him involved or simply settle for a lesser pitcher than Sale.

While Sale is enticing for teams looking for help on the mound, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce is catching the eye of several teams looking for more punch at the plate. Per ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick, at least four teams are interested in Bruce: 

Bruce provides some serious pop at the plate, with 24 home runs and 78 RBI on the year. One team that could be looking at Bruce is, in fact, the Dodgers.

As the Los Angeles Times‘ Bill Shaikin notes, the Dodgers’ outfielders haven’t provided much power this season:

Although he’s making fine contact since returning from a June injury, Yasiel Puig still hasn’t found a way to generate big hits with his bulging muscles, tallying just two home runs and 12 RBI in his last 26 games. If the Dodgers do go for Bruce, Puig could be on his way out, as has been rumored this season.

However, injuries to Clayton Kershaw, Alex Wood and Hyun-Jin Ryu likely have the Dodgers focused more on bolstering the rotation, as evidenced by the Sale rumors.

Should the market not materialize to the Reds’ liking, RedReporter.com’s Wick Terrell notes that they could hold onto Bruce awhile longer: 

It’s obvious that the Reds are trying hard to trade Bruce, and to his credit, his play of late can only be helping their cause.  However, Cincinnati does have the option of holding on to him past the August 1st non-waiver deadline, picking up his option, and attempting to trade him when there are more teams interested and the projected free agent OF market is as weak as expected. That’s a huge risk, of course – one The Enquirer’s Zach Buchanan looked at last week – as Bruce’s disastrous 2nd half sent his overall value into the toilet. As streaky as he’s been in his career, trusting Bruce to sustain what he’s shown so far is a gamble the Reds may not want to take.

Bruce is on a tear as of late, which could spur a contender into offering up a dazzling prospect or two for his services. But the 39-61 Reds aren’t dealing from a position of total weakness here, so it could be that the 29-year-old Bruce remains in Cincy until the team brass finds a deal that suits them.

While there’s a fair chance Bruce isn’t traded before the August 1 deadline, it seems all but certain that the San Diego Padres will unload starting pitcher Andrew Cashner, despite his remaining with the team through Tuesday’s start against the Toronto Blue Jays. 

According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, there was a chance that San Diego would trade Cashner before his start on Tuesday.

There was similar chatter leading up to his start against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 21, but Cashner took the mound in both cases. Rosenthal added context once the game against the Blue Jays—which ended in an embarrassing walk-off loss for the Friars—began:

The Padres must be happy that they haven’t pulled the trigger on a deal yet, because Cashner keeps putting together quality performances. 

Cashner is well aware his time with the Padres is short, telling the San Diego Union-Tribune‘s Dennis Lin, “I’ve made some great relationships.”

While he’s unlikely to assume the mantle of a staff ace on whatever team snaps him up, Cashner is a dependable pitcher who only rarely has a meltdown start.

He’s dealt with a couple of injuries this season, but his recent form shows that he’s done well to put those troubles behind him. 

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Despite struggling through arguably the worst season of his career, San Diego Padres starting pitcher Andrew Cashner is reportedly generating leaguewide interest ahead of the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline.

Continue for updates.

Padres Reportedly Looking to Move Cashner

Wednesday, July 20

Jon Morosi of Fox Sports reported that “rival [executives] believe Padres [general manager] A.J. Preller wants to move [Cashner] before [his] Thursday start.”

However, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com noted that Cashner is expected to pitch on Thursday against St. Louis, citing a source who said they were “99.9 percent” certain no trade would happen before then.

Multiple Teams Interested in Cashner

Tuesday, July 19

According to Rosenthal, several teams could make a run at acquiring Cashner, with the Texas Rangers standing out as one of his primary suitors, per MLB.com.

Cashner Presents Risk to Prospective Suitors

The 29-year-old currently sports a record of 4-7 with a career-worst 5.05 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. His strikeout rate has also dropped since last season with 53 K’s in 67.2 innings. In 2015, the 6’6″ righty posted 165 K’s in 184.2 innings.

Injuries have been a big issue for Cashner in recent years, including this season, as he had a stint on the disabled list in June with a strained neck.

The past two campaigns have been a struggle for the former first-round pick of the Chicago Cubs after he seemingly came into his own in 2013 and 2014 as a potential top-of-the-rotation starter.

Between 2013 and 2014, Cashner posted a modest 15-16 record, but he had an impressive 2.87 ERA and 1.13 WHIP.

He hasn’t been able to get back to that level, but he has the makings of a low-risk deadline acquisition, should a team opt to trade for him.

Cashner is set to become an unrestricted free agent during the offseason, which means the commitment in terms of salary and term will be minimal.

Texas is a sensible landing spot since there are question marks in its rotation outside of the one-two punch of Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish.

With Colby Lewis and Derek Holland injured, the Rangers staff is lacking depth, but Cashner can provide it as long as he remains healthy.

Even if Cashner proves to be little more than an innings eater down the stretch, he is a worthwhile acquisition for the Rangers or any other contending team in need of pitching help since it doesn’t figure to cost a ton to get him with free agency approaching.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

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San Diego Padres pitcher Andrew Cashner recorded an unusual stat line in Monday’s 7-0 loss to the New York Mets, becoming the first pitcher in the modern era (since 1900) to allow 10 or more hits while striking out 10 or more batters over fewer than five innings, per Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN.com).

Cashner gave up six runs (five earned) on 11 hits and no walks over 4.2 innings, despite striking out 12 of the 25 batters he faced.

He gave up a two-run home run to Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy in the fifth inning, and of the 12 balls that Mets batters put into play, 10 fell for hits.

There was only one fielded out behind Cashner—third baseman Will Middlebrooks made an error in the third inning, and Murphy was thrown out attempting to steal.

That lone fielded out came from the bat of Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson, who led off the game with a pop out to Padres shortstop Clint Barmes.

In addition to the aforementioned record involving hits, strikeouts and innings, Cashner also became the first pitcher in modern baseball history to strike out at least 12 batters without allowing a walk while failing to complete five innings, per Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN Stats & Info).

Despite boasting a sterling 72-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio and respectable 3.46 ERA, the 28-year-old right-hander has an ugly 2-8 record, making him the MLB leader in losses.

Poor luck has been part of the problem, but Cashner has done himself no favors by allowing 10 home runs.

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Since getting swept by Joe Torre and the New York Yankees in the 1998 World Series, the San Diego Padres have only played playoff ball twice.

Even on those two occasions that they managed to take an underpaid club and over-perform enough to swing the bats in October, they’ve only been victorious once.

Not since Khalil Greene was making acrobatic plays at shortstop before making the throw to Adrian Gonzalez at first base has this team hung an NL West banner. Eight years later, Greene is five years into his retirement, while Gonzalez finds himself playing baseball up the I-5 with Magic Johnson. Meanwhile, the Friars are still trying to figure this whole baseball thing out and turn things around.

It may take some collective prayers.

It may take a complete overhaul of the League’s hatred for parity by implementing a salary cap 

Either way, read on to find out what this club can do to improve.

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The San Diego Padres placed pitcher Andrew Cashner on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with what the team is calling “right elbow soreness,” per the Padres’ official Twitter account.

Corey Brock of MLB.com provided more details:

Thomas Harding of MLB.com sheds light on how the Padres will proceed in the meantime:

Cashner, 27, has not pitched since a May 13 win over the Cincinnati Reds, so it is unclear when the injury happened. Though Cashner received a no-decision, he looked healthy tossing seven innings of one-run ball against the Reds. 

Bad luck has followed the flame-throwing righty all season long. He holds a 2-5 record despite posting a team-best 2.35 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 57 innings. The Padres are the worst offense in baseball this season, ranking dead last in runs scored, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. They have scored five or more runs in just one of Cashner‘s starts while being shut out four times.

Cashner has been a steadying figure in San Diego’s rotation since arriving in 2012. A converted reliever, he made 26 starts last season and has been the team’s most steady arm in the rotation thus far. The Padres have stayed near .500 on the back of their elite pitching, which ranks third in ERA and has developed a reputation for consistently getting out of trouble.

Without Cashner, though, skipper Bud Black is going to have to scramble. The team recalled reliever Kevin Quackenbush to replace Cashner, but it’s not immediately clear who will get his spot in the rotation.

San Diego has also not disclosed the severity of Cashner‘s injury. He will, at the very least, miss two turns in the rotation. Given the glut of elbow injuries across Major League Baseball this season, though, any time vague terms like “soreness” get thrown around, it’s concerning. 

At the very least, this is a disappointing setback that will send an already scrambling dugout out looking for more answers. 

Follow Tyler Conway on Twitter:

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When the San Diego Padres inserted Andrew Cashner into their starting rotation a few weeks into the 2013 season, it may have been his last chance to prove he could be durable enough to remain there.

Less than a year later, it’s clear that Cashner is not only in the rotation to stay, but it looks like he’ll be the ace of the staff as long as he’s in a Padres uniform.

And after he pitched a one-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers on Friday evening, striking out 11 and allowing only four balls to reach the outfield, it’s starting to become evident that he’s one of the best pitchers in baseball. 

Cashner has a great presence on the mound, and he throws hard. His pitches have excellent movement, he has a plus slider and changeup, and he has top-notch command of his offerings. 

He’s competitive, pitches deep into games and works quickly, which helps keep defenders alert. He’s efficient and is a terrific defender and baserunner. And it’s all coming together for the 27-year-old Texan, who is emerging as an early-season favorite for the NL Cy Young Award. 

In his first five professional seasons from 2008-2012, the 6’6″ right-hander suffered a myriad injuries that kept him from solidifying a rotation spot with the Chicago Cubs, who took Cashner with the 19th pick in the 2008 draft out of Texas Christian University, or the Padres, who acquired him in a trade for Anthony Rizzo in January 2012. 

With the injury-prone label already attached, the Padres eased Cashner into a starting role by having him pitch out of the bullpen to start the 2012 season. After making 27 relief appearances, he finally made his first start as a Padre in early June.

He strained a lat muscle during his third start, however, which caused him to miss the next two months. He returned to make two starts in September but was shut down after aggravating the injury. 

Still, the Padres had every intention of giving Cashner a chance to start in 2013. Even when he lacerated a tendon in his right thumb during an offseason hunting accident, they were committed to giving him his chance once he was ready. 

Cashner made his first start of 2013 on April 20. Six starts later, the Padres were beginning to see signs of greatness as he transitioned from a relief pitcher who could throw his fastball 100 miles per hour to a starter who was pitching more to contact and giving his team seven or eight solid innings.

At the time, it appeared that manager Bud Black was getting the sense that he had a staff ace in the making, per Corey Brock of MLB.com:

“He’s got front-of-the-rotation-type of stuff,” said Black. “It’s a big arm. I think now, he’s starting to come into his own. The last couple of years have been interrupted. Hopefully it’s smooth sailing from here on out.”

And smooth sailing it has been. In 29 starts since entering the rotation last April, Cashner has posted a 2.84 ERA with 141 strikeouts in 186.2 innings pitched and only allowed 154 hits and 48 walks. He’s completed at least seven innings in 14 of those starts and allowed two earned runs or fewer 18 times. 

While the strikeout totals aren’t necessarily what you’d expect from a top-of-the-rotation starter, especially one with a mid-90s fastball, the quick outs are what have enabled him to pitch deep into games. However, he’s starting to show that he’s capable of doing both. 

After striking out no more than six batters in any of his first 19 starts of 2013, Cashner K’d seven batters in six of his last seven games. He completed at least seven innings in each and threw fewer than 100 pitches three times, including a one-hit shutout of the Pirates on Sept. 16. 

In Friday’s game, Cashner was only a Rajai Davis bloop single away from the first no-hitter in Padres history, but it still has to qualify as one of the best starts ever by a San Diego pitcher.

His 11th strikeout of the night came on a 95 mph fastball—his 108th and final pitch of the game—that two-time AL MVP Miguel Cabrera swung through to end the game. 

It’s fitting that 2013 AL Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer and 2011 Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander were watching Cashner spin his masterpiece from the visitor’s dugout. If he keeps it up, he could join their elite club shortly after the season. 

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For all of you forward-thinking fantasy players, you’re probably way ahead of me in coming up with a list of players who’ve given you great value in the first half, but won’t come close to maintaining production for the remainder of the season. You’ll spend the next few weeks looking for the best trade before their value begins to dip too much.

If you need help identifying this year’s version of Asdrubal Cabrera (.286 BA, 11 HR, 42 RBI, 20 2B, 34 BB in 1st half of 2012; .251 BA, 5 HR, 26 RBI, 15 2B, 18 BB in 2nd half of 2012), let me give you some suggestions.

Here are seven players you should consider trading before midseason. 

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