Royals May Be Interested in Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross

It is expected that the Kansas City Royals will be looking to fortify their rotation this season, given the expected departure of James Shields. In most cases, that replacement pitcher is expected to be acquired through free agency, with Ervin Santana and A.J. Burnett the two names most commonly connected to the Royals.

However, what about acquiring a starter via trade? That option may be open, as the San Diego Padres, according to Ken Rosenthal, have made Ian Kennedy, Tyson Ross and Andrew Cashner all available on the trade market. The Royals are listed as one of the teams that may have interest in acquiring one of the three starters, as they would seemingly match up well in a trade.

With Kennedy being a free agent after next season, unless the Royals feel confident that they could resign him to a long term extension, he may not be a likely target. However, Cashner and Ross are under team control through 2016 and 2017 respectively, making such a move seemingly more palatable. After all, the Royals made such a move for James Shields when he had two more years of team control left.

More from KC Royals Rumors

• KC Royals Rumors: Is a monster move in the cards?
• KC Royals Winter Meetings Tracker: Day 2 update
• KC Royals Rumors: Club should pass on this Yankee
• MLB Trade Deadline Rumors: KC Royals at a glance
• KC Royals Rumors: Is club pulling the trade trigger?

While neither pitcher is on the caliber of Shields, both would be a solid addition to the rotation. Andrew Cashner, when healthy, has begun to develop into one of the better starters in the National League. Despite his 15-16 record over the past two seasons, Cashner has posted a 2.87 ERA with a 1.130 WHiP, allowing only 7.9 hits per nine innings. While Cashner is not a strikeout pitcher, striking out 228 batters in 298.1 innings of work, he does an excellent job of keeping the ball in the yard and in generating ground balls. With the Royals defense behind him, Cashner could well take that next step.

Tyson Ross, meanwhile, truly broke through last season. After bouncing between the majors and the minors, and from the bullpen to the starting rotation, Ross spent the entire 2014 as a starting pitcher, posting a 13-14 record with a 2.81 ERA and a 1.211 WHiP. Unlike Cashner, Ross is more of a strikeout pitcher, striking out 195 batters in 195.2 innings last season. Overall in his career, Ross has struck out eight batters per nine innings, giving him an added element that Cashner does not.

Niether Cashner or Ross has the track record that a pitcher like Shields, or even Santana and Burnett, yet both could be solid contributors for the Royals. Both are solid ground ball pitchers, and while the Royals outfield defense receives most of the attention, they have quite the defense on the infield as well. Given the defense that could be behind either starter, it would not be a surprise to see either take another step forward should they come to Kansas City.

The Royals may be able to, once again, find a solid top of the rotation starter via trade. This time, that trade partner may be the San Diego Padres.