MLB.com Columnist

Jon Paul Morosi

Sources: Busy Padres shopping Cashner

Marlins, Orioles among teams with interest in veteran starter

Cashner's dominant start 2:03

Andrew Cashner strikes out nine over six innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits and no walks to earn the win vs. the Giants

Andrew Cashner is the San Diego Padres' probable starter for Thursday's game in St. Louis.

For now.

Padres general manager A.J. Preller is working to trade Cashner before he takes the mound, sources said Wednesday. The Marlins and Orioles are among the teams that have shown interest in Cashner.

Cashner has made three starts since returning from the disabled list earlier this month. Two were quality starts -- both at home, against the Yankees and Giants. In between, he had a clunker at Dodger Stadium, allowing eight earned runs over 2 2/3 innings.

Cashner's value has fluctuated wildly over the past several years, because of injuries and inconsistency. Even while pitching home games at Petco Park, his ERA this season is 5.05. He's had two stints on the disabled list in 2016, with a right hamstring strain in May and strained neck in June.

Cashner surpassed 100 pitches in only two of 14 starts this season, and he's recorded one out all year in the seventh inning or later. He's never thrown 200 innings in a Major League season.

But since he's a free agent after this year, teams are mostly concerned with how he's pitching right now. And his most recent impression -- a season-high nine strikeouts against the Giants - was a favorable one. 

Jon Paul Morosi is a columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Share on Google Plus

About Unknown

This is a short description in the author block about the author. You edit it by entering text in the "Biographical Info" field in the user admin panel.