12:13pm: The Padres also announced that they’ve avoided arbitration with Ross, who, according to MLB.com’s Corey Brock, will earn $9.625MM in 2016 (Twitter link). That comes in a bit shy of Ross’ $10MM projection, although as Swartz outlined in an Arbitration Breakdown post specifically examining Ross’ case, there was reason to believe that the projection model could be a bit aggressive, and something between $9.15MM and $9.7MM might be more appropriate, based on historical comparables.
Ross, 28, recorded a strong 3.26 ERA with 9.7 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in 196 innings for the Padres last season. The Wasserman Media Group client will be arbitration eligible one more time next winter before reaching the open market following the 2017 season.
11:23am: The Padres and right-hander Andrew Cashner have avoided arbitration, according to a club announcement. Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports (via Twitter) that Cashner, a client of CAA Sports, will earn $7.15MM in 2016 — his final trip through the arbitration cycle before qualifying for free agency. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz had pegged Cashner for a $7MM salary in 2016, so he’ll top that projection by about two percent.
Cashner, 29, recorded a 4.34 ERA with 8.0 K/9, 3.2 BB/9 and a 47.4 percent ground-ball rate across 184 2/3 innings with the Padres last season. Cashner was a fairly well-regarded pitching prospect when rising through the Cubs’ ranks and has emerged as a solid starter with the Friars, even if injuries have limited his value somewhat. This past season’s relatively high ERA notwithstanding, Cashner has been effective over the past three years, totaling a 3.43 ERA in 483 innings with the Padres. If he can replicate that ERA and remain healthy over the course of a full season, he’ll enter next season’s thin market of starting pitching as one of the more desirable arms available.
With Cashner’s agreement in place, the Padres have just one case remaining — that of staff ace Tyson Ross — as shown in MLBTR’s Arbitration Tracker. Ross is projected to earn $10MM next season.
Glad we got them both signed.
Yes, glad we did too.