Sources: Cashner joins Rangers on 1-year deal
ARLINGTON -- Pitching coach Doug Brocail told the Rangers this summer he could "fix" pitcher Andrew Cashner. The Rangers are taking him up on his offer. They agreed on Friday to a one-year, $10 million contract with the free-agent right-hander, according to Major League sources. The club hasn't confirmed the deal but an announcement is pending.
Cashner joins a rotation that already includes left-handers Cole Hamels and Martin Perez and right-hander Yu Darvish. A.J. Griffin is the leading candidate for the fifth spot, although the Rangers will continue to look for starting pitching.
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The deal has left Derek Holland convinced he will not be back with the Rangers, and the club has not been in contact with Colby Lewis, who is also a free agent. Lewis has made it clear he wants to return, but the Cashner signing leaves that in doubt.
The Rangers are also pursuing trade options and White Sox left-hander Chris Sale is at the top of their list.
Texas has long had its eye on Cashner and had multiple trade discussions with the Padres over the past two years. The Rangers considered him in their search for pitching leading up to the non-waiver Trade Deadline this past summer but the Padres ended up dealing him to the Marlins.
Cashner, 30, was a combined 5-11 with a 5.25 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP in 27 starts and one relief appearance with the Padres and the Marlins last season while spending three weeks on the disabled list with a neck strain. He averaged 9.68 hits, 4.09 walks and 7.64 strikeouts per nine innings.
From 2013-15, he made 76 starts and five relief appearances for the Padres and was 21-32 with a 3.43 ERA. He was one of 27 National League pitchers who threw at least 450 innings over those three seasons. Among those 27 pitchers, Cashner was 14th in ERA, 16th with a 1.25 WHIP and 18th with 7.19 strikeouts per nine innings.
His fastball averaged 93.3 mph last season with the Marlins. His second-best pitch is a slider and he also throws a curve and changeup.
Cashner, 30, pitched at Conroe (Tex.) High School as well as Angelina College and Texas Christian University. He was the 19th overall Draft pick by the Cubs in 2008. He was traded to the Padres in 2012 in a deal that sent first baseman Anthony Rizzo to the Cubs.
T.R. Sullivan has covered the Rangers since 1989, and for MLB.com since 2006. Follow him on Twitter @Sullivan_Ranger and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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