Padres Andrew Cashner to Return This Weekend

The Padres Andrew Cashner will return from the Disabled List to start Sunday against the Yankees. He has not pitched since June 10th and pitched this week in Single A to get ready to come back to the Padres rotation.

The Padres “Big Three” at the start of the season – James Shields, Tyson Ross, and Andrew Cashner – has not had a good 2016. Shields is gone, Ross has made one start, and Cashner has a 4.75 ERA on the year.

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Cashner will be a free agent at the end of the season and it is safe to say he has not lived up to expectations after the Padres traded Anthony Rizzo for him several years ago. Rizzo is now part of a Chicago Cubs core that is the best team in the National League and favorites to make – if not win – the World Series this season.

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That said – the fact that Cashner is healthy now means the Padres might be able to showcase him a team needing help at the trade deadline. Manager Andy Green assured the media he wasn’t being rushed back: “I don’t think there’s really any hesitation… The expectation is that he slides into that spot on normal rest on Sunday, and we push [Luis] Perdomo back for another day.”

The Padres had toyed with the idea of a six man rotation upon Cashner’s return, as they are throwing out a very young rotation right now. With no James Shields to eat up innings, the Padres may reach a point where most of their rotation hits an innings limit in August. Even Drew Pomeranz, far and away their best starter this season – is reaching new innings territory for his career. A six man rotation would be a way to ease all of their arms and workloads.

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Tyson Ross is still continuing his rehab at a snails pace. He will throw live batting practice next but will likely not be back in the rotation until late July or early August. At this point there is certainly no point in rushing him back.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Cashner in the next month. He has flashed the potential of being dominant, and might just need a change of scenery. Would a team like the Giants take a shot on him as a cheap rental or even the Red Sox whose rotation is struggling except for Stephen Wright? Looking forward to seeing him back on the mound Sunday.