Right-handed starting pitcher Andrew Cashner is on the verge of signing with the Texas Rangers.
According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, starting pitcher Andrew Cashner is close to reaching an agreement to sign with the Texas Rangers.
TR Sullivan, who covers the Rangers for MLB.com is reporting that Cashner’s deal with the Rangers is for one year and $10 million. Pending a physical, this deal looks essentially wrapped up.
If the Rangers are able to come to terms with Cashner, it would wrap up a busy week for the American League West’s Texas teams. The Houston Astros signed Charlie Morton and Josh Reddick and traded for Brian McCann. Both teams figure to continue being aggressive players in the offseason market.
Cashner is coming off a disappointing 2016 season with the San Diego Padres and Miami Marlins. He made 27 starts, finishing 5-11 with a 5.25 ERA. Cashner was 1-4 with a 5.98 ERA in 52.2 innings after being traded to the Marlins.
The 2016 campaign continued the downward trajectory of Cashner’s career. He pitched to a 2.98 ERA in close to 300 innings between 2013 and 2014. Over the past two seasons, however, the tall right-hander has gone 11-27 with a 4.72 ERA in 59 games. The home run and walk plagued Cashner in 2016, and he posted career-worst rates of 1.3 HR/9 and 4.1 BB/9 last season.
That Cashner allowed so many home runs in 2016 is troubling as he relies heavily on his sinker. He still has excellent velocity on his four-seam and two-seam fastballs, topping out close to 95 mph, but has seen a decline in groundball rate since the best years of his career. Cashner’s slider, his primary breaking pitch, does not generate swings and misses at a high rate.
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Cashner would join a Rangers rotation that is seeking depth behind Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels. He profiles similarly to incumbent options Martin Perez and A.J. Griffin who also pitch to contact. With several higher-profile starters potentially on the trade block, and Rich Hill lingering on the market, the Rangers may not be done in their search for starting pitching.