Padres: Three starting pitchers to target before deadline

With Garrett Richards having pitched two or fewer innings in his last two outings, a starting pitcher just became an immediate need for the Padres.

Not long after the Padres stunned the Mariners in game one of the doubleheader, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, the mood suddenly went somber again. Garrett Richards last all of two outs, putting the Padres in an early 6-0 hole. For Richards, it marked the second consecutive start in which he failed to pitch beyond the second inning. Which is strange because the start before that, the soon-to-be free agent went 7.0 innings.

We recently discussed that the Friars might be able to avoid adding another starter at the trade deadline because of how the schedule was configured, but that also assumed their rotation was going to give them a chance. Chris Paddack had another rough outing on Tuesday night, but he’s not going anywhere.

Richards made his way back from Tommy John surgery. Is he experiencing fatigue just over halfway through a 60-game season? Who the hecks know, but it’s evident that the Padres need to jump on the horn and determine what teams want in return for starting pitchers on the market. Speaking of the market, it definitely favors sellers this year, as some teams could give up a haul with just 27 games left.

But the Padres are talented enough to make a deep postseason run, should they be so fortunate. A couple of spots on the roster need to be patched up, though, beginning with the bullpen, but that’s long been a foregone conclusion that general manager AJ Preller will address it.

As for the rotation, let’s look at three players the Padres might ask about.

1. Lance Lynn

Lance Lynn is arguably the most coveted pitcher on the trade market. Had you told me that a couple of years ago, I’m not sure if I would have finished laughing. The Padres recently saw Lynn in their series, touching him up for two runs over seven innings.

Once one this year has Lynn failed to go at least six innings, which is exactly what the Padres need in their rotation. The big righty has an absurd 1.59 ERA through 7 starts, fanning 50 batters over 45.1 innings.

If acquired, the Padres will have Lynn in the rotation through next season as well, at a $9.3M fee, which could complicate plans for MacKenzie Gore and others looking to join the rotation.

But, as noted, Richards is a free agent after the conclusion of the 2020 shortened season. He’ll likely walk, and who knows if Gore will be ready for the rotation, given the lack of a minor league season this year, and he’s yet to see an inning at the big league level.

2. Kevin Gausman

The Yankees have reportedly been the most interested in the former fourth overall pick of the Orioles. He made regular starts in the rotation beginning in 2014 and posted a career-best 3.57 ERA in 20 starts. He was traded to the Braves during the 2018 campaign and to the Reds last year before hitting free agency.

With the Reds, Kevin Gausman was primarily used out of the bullpen, given how full their rotation was. Through six appearances – including five starts, the 29-year-old has a 4.65 ERA (3.13 FIP), fanning 42 batters to just six walks in 31.0 innings of work in 2020.

Gausman is posting a career-best 12.2 K/9, primarily due to the success of his split-finger fastball that has yielded a .157 average, 43.0 whiff percentage, and an average exit velocity of 79.5 MPH, according to StatCast.

He’ll be a free agent at the end of the year, so the return should be relatively cheap.