The Boston Red Sox traded two minor league prospects to the Baltimore Orioles for RHP Andrew Cashner on Saturday night. Boston has not had good production from its starting rotation this season, and that has played a part in the Red Sox struggles despite posting one of the highest payrolls in baseball. The Red Sox are 50-42 and 1.5 games out of the playoff picture in the American League coming into Sunday’s games.
‘Everything fit together’ for acquiring Andrew Cashner, says Dave Dombrowski https://t.co/gH8lO7tW9E
— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) July 14, 2019
Cashner had been one of the few bright spots on the lowly Orioles before the trade. He was 9-3 on a 28-win team, and he has a 3.83 ERA and 1.19 WHIP so far in 2019. Cashner had been on the trading block though as he is in the last year of a two-year $16 million contract, and Baltimore has been looking to move players for prospects.
And so begins trade season: Andrew Cashner is headed from Baltimore to the Boston Red Sox. He'll round out their rotation, with Nathan Eovaldi jumping into the closer's role upon his return from the injured list. Cashner will be a free agent after this season.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 13, 2019
The Red Sox have had some major issues with their starting pitchers this year. Chris Sale is the ace, but he has had some troubles, while Eduardo Rodriguez and Rick Porcello have been routinely shelled. Ironically enough, the much maligned David Price has been the best pitcher in the bunch, with a 147 ERA+ in 83 innings of work.
Acquiring Andrew Cashner means that Nathan Eovaldi will move back into the bullpen once he comes back from injury. Eovaldi is considered to be about a week away from returning to the roster.
Red Sox fans will get the first chance to see Cashner in action on Tuesday night when Boston hosts the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park.
The Orioles have acquired OF Elio Prado (17) and INF Noelberth Romero (17) from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for RHP Andrew Cashner. Prado will be assigned to the DSL Orioles 1 and Romero will be assigned to the DSL Orioles 2.
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 13, 2019
It will likely be some time before we see the two prospects the Baltimore Orioles got in return. Elio Prado and Noelberth Romero are both 17 years old, and both are considered at least a few years away from reaching the bigs. Both players are currently playing in the Dominican Summer League.
H/T Boston Globe
