The Padres are being hamstrung by hamstrings.
Last Sunday the Padres had to take starting pitcher Andrew Cashner out of a loss to the Mets after he felt what was described as cramping in his hamstring. Cashner felt the discomfort after trying to score from first base on a double by Jon Jay. After the game manager Andy Green thought he had a positive prognosis to share.
“He’s fine,” said Green at the time. “Cramps in his hamstrings. Kind of what we’ve been through with hamstrings so far this year. As soon as we hear that we’re like, you’re done. But he’s fine. No limitations going forward, no issues at all.”
But this is the 2016 San Diego Padres and every hamstring issue is, indeed, an issue. The Padres placed Cashner on the 15-day Disabled List on Friday, the day he was scheduled to make his next start in Milwaukee. San Diego called up lefty Christian Friedrich from Triple-A El Paso to take the rotation spot. Green said on Friday that Cashner thought he could have played on Friday but the team thought it prudent just to be sure and let him rest longer.
Cashner could join teammates Yangervis Solarte, Alexi Amarista and Jemile Weeks, who are all on the shelf with the same issue, and form a hamstring quartet.
The Padres made a couple more roster moves on Friday. They added catcher Hector Sanchez, who was claimed off waivers from the White Sox on Wednesday, and designated outfielder Jabari Blash for assignment.
Blash became an almost instant fan favorite in Spring Training with his prodigious power from the right side of the plate but with outfielders Matt Kemp, Jon Jay and Melvin Upton Jr. playing well he never got consistent playing time. Blash went 3-for-25 with 13 strikeouts but only started three games.
The Rule 5 draftee will be placed on waivers and if he clears them, be offered back to the Mariners for $25,000. If Seattle declines to take Blash back the Padres will have the option of bringing him back to the organization and sending him to the minor leagues to get consistent playing time, an option they would be willing to explore.
