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MLB Trade Deadline: Baltimore Orioles Discussing Melvin Upton, Andrew Cashner

By Mark Suleymanov
Published on: 03:43 PST, Jul 23, 2016

The Baltimore Orioles have reportedly spoken to the San Diego Padres about acquiring outfielder Melvin Upton and pitcher Andrew Cashner in separate deals, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. Last night, Rosenthal reported that the Orioles and Padres were discussing a trade that would send struggling pitcher Ubaldo Jiminez to San Diego for Upton; an exchange of two contracts with similar money left on them.

Baltimore owes Jimenez $13 million this season and $13.5 million for 2017, while Upton is set to make $15.45 million currently and $16.45 million next year.

Upton, 31, has enjoyed a career renaissance in San Diego, slashing 0.259/0.307/0.444 with 16 homers and 45 runs batted in 91 games. After signing a lucrative five-year, $72.25 million deal with the Atlanta Braves prior to the 2013 campaign, the once 20-homer, 40-stolen bases threat became a struggling fourth outfielder — hitting a combined.217 with 26 HR, 78 RBIs, and 41 steals over the three-year stretch.

Despite his improvement this year, Upton’s hefty salary for this season and next still makes him a gamble. However, the Orioles’ outfield has been decimated by injuries to Joey Rickard (thumb) and Hyun-Soo Kim (hamstring). Rickard is expected to miss four to six weeks while Kim may return sooner than later.

Inserting the dynamic Upton into the outfield would give Baltimore a solid corner option and a fill-in for gold glover Adam Jones in center field should he need an off day.

As for Jiminez, the 32-year-old righty has been an outright disaster this season. In 18 games (17 starts), the former National League All-Star sports a 5-9 record with a 7.38 ERA. He’s allowing a career-high 12.2 H/9 and 5.5 BB/9. Jimenez’ strikeout rate (7.9 K/9) is the lowest it has been since his 2012 season with the Cleveland Indians.

In mid-June, the Orioles demoted Jimenez to the bullpen, creating an opening for Yovani Gallardo to rejoin the rotation, via MASN Sports).

“What do we have to do?” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said, according to Baltimore Sun). “It’s something we’ve gone through some really good times and some really tough times. We know there’s some good there. He’s healthy and works hard. I see him between starts. He wants to be a consistent contributor so bad and it’s just not happening for him right now.”

Baltimore signed Jimenez to a four-year, $50 million deal prior to the 2014 season. Relying on the likes of Vance Worley and other replacement-level starters, the Orioles have sought an upgrade for a while.

Cashner, 29, has been decent for the Friars this season, sporting a 4-7 record with a 4.79 ERA in 15 starts. Cashner is a free agent at season’s end and has been on the disabled list twice in 2016. However, his electric fastball provides some value for San Diego and the team is seeking two prospects in return for him, per Rosenthal.

In his recent outing on July 21, Cashner went five-and-one-third innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing just three hits, one earned run, and struck out eight batters. As the deadline approaches, the Padres are looking to move Cashner quickly and this start raised his stock.

“I know I’m going to be traded,” Cashner said after Thursday’s start, via San Diego Union-Tribune. “It’s just part of the game, part of where the season’s at.”

The MLB Trade Deadline is next Sunday, July 31, at 4 p.m. and Upton/Cashner are just two of several names expected to be moved in the days leading up to the deadline.

[Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images]

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