After re-signing Colby Lewis to a one-year deal, the Texas Rangers are looking to further improve their starting rotation. They're targeting a right-hander from the San Diego Padres, who also have ongoing trade talks with other teams, including the Boston Red Sox.
Although the Rangers were one of the worst teams in baseball this past season, their current roster suggests they are a few moves away from jumping back into contention. They were plagued by injuries to some of their best players and had continuity issues with manager Ron Washington, which certainly contributed to their 67-95 record. General manager Jon Daniels has been fairly active this offseason and he's continuing to do so.
According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, the Rangers are interested in San Diego Padres starter Andrew Cashner. The 28-year-old was born in Texas and attended Texas Christian University before being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2008. He's spent the past three seasons with the Padres and owns an 18-20 record with a 3.06 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP in 83 appearances (50 starts). Cashner had ERAs of 3.09 and 2.55 over the past two seasons but the Padres offense did little to help him out. He only made 19 starts in 2014 because a shoulder injury kept him out of action for two months.
"Cashner has two years remaining before free agency and is likely to earn between $3-4 million in 2015, which would still give the Rangers financial flexibility to take on a bigger salary in a trade during the spring or at the trading deadline," writes Grant. "Cashner, 28, has reportedly told friends he'd like to return to Texas, which is something you don't often hear from pitchers."
The Rangers have also been said to be interested in Justin Upton because of their need of a power-hitting outfielder. Acquiring Upton would be a "bigger salary" trade that Grant mentions.
Cashner isn't the only Padres' pitcher who is garnering interest from some teams. FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported on Sunday that San Diego discussed an Ian Kennedy-for-Yoenis Cespedes trade with the Boston Red Sox, which remains credible. The Padres are in need of a power-hitting outfielder, which has been portrayed through their previous interest in Yasmany Tomas, Justin Upton, Matt Kemp and others, while Boston is looking to improve their weak starting rotation.
However, Rosenthal notes the Red Sox believe Cespedes can help them land a better pitcher than Kennedy. The right-hander posted a 13-13 record this past season with a 3.63 ERA and 1.289 WHIP in 33 starts. Kennedy's career year came in 2011 with the Arizona Diamondbacks when he went 21-4 with a 2.88 ERA and 1.086 WHIP in 33 starts, but he was traded just two seasons later to San Diego. In 43 starts with the Padres, Kennedy owns a 17-15 record with a 3.76 ERA and 1.30 WHIP.
While Cespedes will earn $10.5 million in 2015 before becoming a free agent, the Padres must now handle Kennedy's third year of arbitration eligibility. If they fail to sign him beyond 2015, he'll also become a free agent after the season.
