Boston Red Sox tenure might make Andrew Cashner marketable

Andrew Cashner was considered a disastrous acquisition for the Boston Red Sox. Nonetheless, his time in Boston might just make him a marketable commodity.

When the Boston Red Sox acquired Andrew Cashner for two minor leaguers on July 13, they envisioned that he would be the answer to solidifying the back of their rotation. Instead, Cashner was a disaster in his six starts for Boston, posting an 8.01 ERA and a 1.912 WHiP in his 30.1 innings.

The supposed savior in the back of the rotation was banished to the bullpen after a particularly horrendous start on August 11. He recorded just five outs, allowing three runs on three hits, five walks, and a hit batter. The Red Sox had seen enough, sending Cashner to the bullpen.

In a bit of a surprise, he thrived in that role. In his 19 appearances in relief, Cashner was rather effective. He posted a 3.86 ERA and a 1.242 WHiP, striking out 21 batters against 12 walks in his 23.1 innings. It may not have been pretty at times, but Cashner was effective.

Although the overall picture was less than desired, that stint in Boston may have helped Cashner. While he had not pitched in relief since 2013, those 19 outings showed that he could be effective in that role. Therefore, it is not a surprise that his representatives are marketing Cashner as a reliever at this point.

Cashner would certainly be intriguing as a full time reliever. His fastball velocity improved to 95.4 MPH, and he raised his swinging strike percentage by 4.3 points. He may not fill a role in the late innings, but Cashner could be a valuable middle reliever.

At this point in the offseason, it is likely that he would need to settle for a minor league contract and attempt to pitch his way onto a major league roster. Even that could be beneficial, as he could potentially choose the team that offers the best path to the majors. If that proves to be a rebuilding team, Cashner could once again be an interesting piece at the trade deadline, as every contending team is always looking for more depth in their bullpen.

Andrew Cashner may not have been what the Boston Red Sox hoped for, but that stint could prove fruitful nonetheless. His stint as a reliever could be a boost to his career.