Padres trade rumors: Orioles ‘trying hard’ to land Andrew Cashner

Baltimore is still hoping to add a starter in advance of the non-waiver trade deadline and is “trying hard” to land San Diego’s Andrew Cashner, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.

While the Orioles are aggressively pursuing Cashner, an impending free agent, they are not necessarily the favorites to land him, Rosenthal adds.

MLB.com’s Jon Morosi reported Wednesday the Padres were making progress on a Cashner trade, but San Diego might not be inclined to quickly make a deal, since Cashner isn’t scheduled to pitch again until Monday night.

Before the Padres sent Melvin Upton to Toronto, the Orioles were thought to be among the top teams interested. As a result, a deal could come together quickly, since the clubs have likely scouted each other’s minor league systems.

Kevin Gausman and Chris Tillman have proven to be the only two effective Orioles starters, having not pitched to an ERA over five this season.

Yovani Gallardo has struggled, and Ubaldo Jimenez, Vance Worley, Mike Wright, Tyler Wilson and Dylan Bundy have been inconsistent for a Baltimore rotation that has pitched to a 4.94 ERA, which ranks 12th in the American League.

Cashner, 29, hasn’t fared well either, pitching to a 4.76 ERA and 4.94 FIP over 79.1 innings with the Padres. However, based on the market for starting pitching, Cashner is considered one of the better arms available.

While it seems the Astros are no longer pursuing Cashner, the Marlins, Rangers, Giants and Blue Jays all seem to be in the mix.

San Diego set the market for controllable starting pitching after acquiring Anderson Espinoza, one of Boston’s top pitching prospects, in the Drew Pomeranz deal with the Red Sox. Although the price might not be that steep for a rental starter, the Padres have one of few available arms that several teams are seeking.