SARASOTA, Fla. – Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez had no idea when the week began that Trevor Cahill mighty suddenly make the fifth-starter competition a moot point. But now that Cahill has, Gonzalez has quickly warmed to the idea.
The Braves finalized a trade for the Diamondbacks right-hander late Thursday, sending minor league outfielder Josh Elander west in exchange for the former All-Star, who they hope will bounce back from a career-worst season.
Cahill, 27, was 3-12 with a 5.61 ERA in 32 games (17 starts) in 2014, four years after going 18-8 with a 2.97 ERA for Oakland in an All-Star season in 2010.
“This thing materialized about a day ago,” Gonzalez said. “You’ve got to be prepared for all these things. This thing kind of took on a life of its own. We got the deal done, and we feel like we got a guy with a lot of upside. He’s 27, good sinker, he’ll pitch in our ballpark, which is a little more forgiving than Arizona. Get that sinker back and he can really help us.
“(Pitching coach) Roger (McDowell) has had some success with some of those guys. We put a lot of pressure on Roger, but he’s good — Roger’s outstanding.”
Cahill is set to make his first start for the Braves on April 15 against the Marlins at Turner Field, the ninth game of the season and the first time the Braves will need a fifth starter due to an off day in the schedule April 9. Gonzalez said Cahill would be available out of the bullpen until then.
The Braves plan to have Cahill throw some simulated innings at their training camp Sunday before he flies with the team to Miami for Monday’s season opener.
The Diamondbacks are sending $6.5 million to the Braves in the trade to cover more than half of Cahill’s $12 million salary in 2015. He’ll be eligible for free agency after the season. Although the Braves will hold up to two option years on his deal at $13 million in 2016 and $13.5 million in 2017, it’s obvious they made the deal expecting to have Cahill for one season and not intending to exercise those options.
Braves assistant general manager John Coppolella said the scouted four of Cahill’s games this spring.
“We saw his last outing, where he showed a real good fastball to 94 (mph) with real good sink,” Coppolella said. “We thought he was kind of a good buy-low, based on the fact he’s still young. He’ll be in a free-agent walk year.”
Gonzalez said, “So hopefully, in the last year of the contract where he’s fighting (to get a deal), I think there’s good upside. We added some payroll and added a quality person that can help us win.”
Cahill, a big boy listed at 6 feet 4 and 240 pounds, has a 64-69 record and 4.07 ERA in 186 games (170 starts) over six seasons with Oakland and Arizona, with 718 strikeouts and 411 walks in 1,040 1/3 innings.
After his All-Star season with the A’s in 2010, he totaled 25 wins with an ERA near 4.00 over the 2011 and 2012 seasons while pitching more than 200 innings each season. Cahill had a hip injury that limited him to 146 2/3 innings in 2013 (8-10, 3.99 ERA) and was demoted to the bullpen for a period last season after struggling badly in the rotation early on.
When he’s struggled it’s usually been due to control issues and inconsistent pitching mechanics. Cahill has had difficult finding a consistent arm slot in his delivery, and this spring he’s had some success with his arm in a slightly higher position.
