The Miami Marlins have beefed up their rotation as they make a push for the playoffs.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports the Marlins have acquired starting pitcher Andrew Cashner from the San Diego Padres. The Miami Herald‘s Barry Jackson reports that the team also acquired starter Colin Rea. In exchange for the duo, the Marlins have traded prospect Josh Naylor with other players to be included. The Herald‘s Clark Spencer tweeted that at least one major league player will be going to San Diego in the deal.
So, #Marlins acquiring starter for short-term (Cashner) and long (Rea) from #Padres.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 29, 2016
The 55-47 Marlins are in the thick of the playoff race, five games behind the Washington Nationals in the NL East and tied for the league’s second wild card spot. Adding two starters helps improve their young, inconsistent rotation.
Cashner, acquired by the Padres in 2012 in a deal with the Cubs for Anthony Rizzo, has shown moments of being a dominant starter in the big leagues, possessing a triple-digit fastball. Cashner hasn’t turned into an ace, but he’s been a solid, middle of the rotation starter for San Diego. In 2016, he’s posted a 4-7 record with a 4.76 ERA. He’s set to become a free agent this offseason.
Rea is a long-term bet, as the 26-year-old will be controllable until 2022. A former top pitching prospect with San Diego, Rea has made 18 starts (19 games), with a 5-5 record, 4.98 ERA and a concerning 4.0 BB/9. Still, he could be a much-needed back-end starter for the Marlins.
Acquiring Naylor isn’t a bad coup for the Padres. The 19-year-old, drafted No. 12 overall in 2015, has immense power at his age. In 89 games with Greensboro, the Marlins Single-A Affiliate, Naylor has 24 doubles, nine home runs and 54 RBI with a .269 batting average. The knock against Naylor is his lack of position, as he’s a first baseman/DH and not much else.
Cashner and Rea come at a high cost, considering their limited potential impact, but the duo should help the Marlins compete and solidify the back-end of the team’s rotation as they push towards the postseason. The Padres continue to restock prospects after trading so many away before the 2015 season, and get a pretty good one in Naylor.
#Padres opening rotation: Ross, Shields, Cashner, Rea, Pomeranz. All traded except Ross, who has been on DL since Opening Day start.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) July 29, 2016