Cincinnati Reds free agency preview: Starting pitcher Trevor Cahill

The Cincinnati Reds are in serious need of starting pitching this offseason. Blog Red Machine is going to check out a few potential free agents who could help. Trevor Cahill could be a low risk, but high reward pick up.

Free agency doesn’t start for a few more weeks, but it’s never too early to preview which players the Cincinnati Reds may target this offseason. Obviously, starting pitching is far and away the biggest need for this ballclub going forward.

Being a small market franchise, it’s rare to see the Reds splurge in free agency. Free-agent-to-be Trevor Cahill definitely will not command a large salary. In fact, most people would assume that Cahill is most likely to only receive one-year offers. Might the Reds be one of those teams?

Trevor Cahill has had an up and down career. The Oakland Athletics drafted Cahill back in 2006. He made his Major League debut in 2009. Cahill had a Cy Young worthy season in 2010. Cahill went to his first and only All-Star Game that season while starting 30 games and carrying a 2.97 ERA.

The following season was not as kind to Cahill. His ERA rose to 4.16 and Cahill was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 2011 offseason. In 3 seasons with the Dbacks, Cahill started 74 games and his ERA was 4.29.

Cahill bounced around the big leagues and the minors over the last four years. Since 2014, Cahill has played for the San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, and Oakland A’s. Cahill saw starting and relief appearances during that time racking up a 4.29 ERA and a WHIP of 1.451.

Cahill settled back in Oakland this season and started 20 of 21 games. He missed a little time during the season with a back injury. Cahill went 7-4 with a 3.76 ERA 1.191 WHIP. He wasn’t back to his All-Star form of 2010 but still had a solid season for the A’s.

The Athletics had the lowest payroll in all of Major League Baseball last season, so they definitely have the resources to bring back Cahill if they’d like. However, Edwin Jackson is also a free agent, had a better season than Cahill, and may come back to Oakland on a shorter or cheaper deal.

Cahill is a sinkerball pitcher, which would work well at Great American Ball Park. The Cincinnati Reds should be after pitchers who can keep the ball down in the zone and induce groundballs. Cahill does just that.