Andrew Cashner
Of the pitchers discussed thus far, it may be most difficult convincing Cashman to sign Cashner.
He is one of the younger players on the list and is coming off his best season since 2014, posting a sturdy 2.55 ERA.
Cashner isn’t the strikeout pitcher he once was, but he’s still capable of getting outs. For the Rangers, he pitched 166 2/3 innings and sported a 3.40 ERA despite owning a measly 4.6 K/9 ratio.
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The right-hander’s biggest issue is his consistency. One of the things he can consistently do is produce walks, as his command is shoddy.
He’s averaged more than three walks per nine innings in all but two of his professional seasons.
At one point, he was one of the Padres’ premier prospects. And, it seemed that he would pan out, as he put together strong seasons in 2013 and 2014.
In those two years alone, he pitched a combined 298 1/3 with 221 whiffs to go against 66 walks.
Yes, he hasn’t been nearly as dominant as he once was, but he could be in for a surprise comeback in 2018. If Ervin Santana and Jason Vargas can do it, why not Cashner?
Even if he doesn’t own the perplexing collection of pitches he once had when he was younger, he’s still more trustworthy than some minor leaguers being throw into the fire.
Next: Houston's bullpen needs some improvement for 2018
Cashner would be just one more cheap option for a decent fifth starter for the New York Yankees next season.