Padres Andrew Cashner Still Here: Trade Him Now

I wrote last week that the Padres needed to trade Andrew Cashner ASAP – and he is still here. Then he went out and upped his trade value – and he is still here. It is time to go.

I have nothing personal against the man. Long have I forgiven him for not living up to the sky-high expectations placed on him when he was traded for Anthony Rizzo – who raised the bar so far above Cashner’s own ceiling it just became a trade you don’t think about. Yet holding onto him now makes no sense.

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After his last start – one where he held the Cardinals to one run in 5 2/3 innings and struck out 8 while walking none – he acknowledged that he would likely be traded before his next start. Yet he was not.

Look no further than the Oakland Athletics this season. They have Rich Hill who is pitching near the top of the American League in the final year of a contract season. He went into the All Star Break amid many trade rumors as teams like the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Rangers and more seek starting pitching. The Red Sox reportedly turned down the A’s asking price and settled for the Padres Drew Pomeranz instead.

Then, in his first start of the second half, he left after two pitches with a blister on his pitching hand. That means any team that gets him will have him without at least a couple of second half starts and knows that his blister might flare up again anytime soon.

Next: Padres Take Two of Three from Nats

For Cashner – he is not exactly the picture of health this season with two stints already on the Disabled List, not to mention the complete inability to win outside of Petco Park. The key might be GM A.J. Preller taking advantage of a team that needs him. Last night the Padres were shut down by Aaron Sanchez, who improved to 11-1 on the year. That however comes with a trade-off.

Sanchez is a young pitcher who will be monitored near the end of the year due to arm workload. The Padres can give Cashner to them as a way to help ease Sanchez’ innings at the end of the season and hopefully still get something quality in return. I just hope he doesn’t get hurt in the meantime.