MLB Trade Rumors: Padres pitching drawing trade interest
The San Diego Padres look to be in a good position to swing a trade at the MLB Winter Meetings.
In light of the rising price of acquiring free agent pitching this off season, many teams are turning to the trade market to look for potential help in upgrading their starting staffs. So it should be no surprise that the San Diego Padres are being reported as one of the most frequently inquired with teams as the Winter Meetings get under way this week.
The Padres have been weighing offers for pitchers Tyson Ross, James Shields and Andrew Cashner in the last few days, according to Ken Rosenthal via Twitter. With the team being in a slight restructuring, and looking to both shed contractual obligations and restock their minor league system, they are a team that many are narrowing in on to gauge ways to get around what is increasingly becoming an inflated market for free agent arms.
Of the group, Shields could be seen as the most desirable piece for the Padres to move internally, however he could prove to be the most difficult to as well. He is owed $21 million per year through 2018, but could chose to opt out of the deal after next season. With that type of uncertain mixture of financial obligation (the Padres are said to not being open to taking on any cost to facilitate a trade), as well as the uncertain nature of how long he will remain with his new club, it could be a tough sell for GM A.J. Preller.
Conversely, dealing Ross would be a difficult proposition for the Padres from a competitive perspective, considering he is a young (28) and cost-efficient ($500k salary in 2015) arm, that has been highly productive in recent years as well. His 212 strikeouts were sixth best in the NL last season, and his ERA since coming to the NL in 2013 is 3.07.
Cashner represents the most balanced move for the team, as he could serve as a backend starter for a team looking to fill out its rotation, and could likely fetch solid return.
The Padres have been busy in making alterations to their pitching staff this winter, having already dealt relievers Craig Kimbrel and Joaquin Benoit to the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners, respectively. Starter Ian Kennedy is also a free agent and unlikely to return.