The Padres are open to moving Ian Kennedy, Andrew Cashner, and Tyson Ross this offseason.
With news of the Padres potentially landing Korean left-hander Kwang-Hyun Kim, the team will be listening to offers regarding pitchers Ian Kennedy, Andrew Cashner, and Tyson Ross, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. Rosenthal also lists the Braves, Indians, Diamondbacks, Royals, Rangers, and the Cubs as teams with the biggest pitching needs.
All three pitchers will be arbitration-eligible this offseason, with Kennedy entering his third and final arbitration year. Meanwhile Cashner and Ross are entering their second arbitration year. Kennedy's 2015 salary is expected to be around $10 million, while Cashner and Ross will both be somewhere around $5-6 million in 2015.
Since joining the Padres in a trade-deadline deal in 2013, Kennedy has put up some of the best numbers of his career. In 2014, Kennedy posted career-highs in K/9 (9.27) and FIP (3.21). His 3.63 ERA was the second best of his 8-year career. Before joining San Diego, Kennedy pitched for the Yankees (2007-2009) and the Diamondbacks (2010-2013).
After spending most of his first three big league seasons as a reliever, Cashner made an impressive transition into a full-time role as a starter in 2013. His numbers were even better in 2014, despite missing nearly three months with shoulder issues. Over the past two seasons, Cashner has posted a 2.87 ERA over 45 starts and nearly 300 innings.
During that same time frame, Ross was equally as impressive as Cashner. Over 47 starts, Ross posted a 2.95 ERA and an impressive 8.81 K/9 rate. Ross originally broke in with the Oakland A's, but joined the Padres in a trade nearly two years ago. The move worked out great for San Diego, as Ross' ERA went from 5.33 in three years in Oakland to a 2.95 ERA in his two years in San Diego.