The Future El Paso Whatever’s: Part 2 (The Starting Pitchers)

When it comes to trying to figure out whether current Padres hitters or pitchers could be on El Paso‘s roster next year, I would have to say the hitters were a little easier. The group of pitchers that the Padres have right now aren’t performing particularly well. On top of not performing too well, there are also going to be a lot more free agents out of this group than the hitters. So, lets go over all of the starting pitchers that are currently on the Padre’s roster.

The Starting Pitchers

1. Edinson Volquez (RHP – SP) – 4-5, 5.35 ERA, 1.515 WHIP, 48 K, 31 BB. He will be a Free Agent following this season. Edinson prefers to sign a new deal with the Padres. The Padres probably would be happy to do that at the right price. Not Ace money, I would imagine. On top of that, if he reaches 100 BB again this season, I think he will not be coming back.

I don’t think he will be a Padre next year. If he was, it would take an injury for him to come to El Paso.

Eric Stults… wait, wrong guy?  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2. Eric Stults (LHP – SP) – Did you know that Eric Stoltz was originally cast as Marty McFly and actually filmed Back to the Future for five weeks before being replaced by Michael J. Fox? Wait. What? Wrong guy? Sorry, I told you all that I was new here.  4-5, 3.74 ERA, 1.165 WHIP, 53 K, 17 BB. Stults is the ace of the team so far this season, no doubt trying to insure that he is no longer confused with the red-headed thespian.

Stults is arbitration eligible after this season. He is also out of options. We won’t be seeing him. He will be with the Padres.

3. Jason Marquis (RHP – SP) – 6-2, 3.82 ERA, 1.492 WHIP, 40 K, 36 BB. Marquis is 34 years old and leads the league in walks.

I think that the Padres will be hoping his ERA and record can fool somebody into trading for him. (The Rangers?) We will not be seeing him next season. Sorry.

4. Andrew Cashner (RHP – SP) – I think I remember Cashner being pegged as the Padres Closer of the Future at some point. But, starting seems to be suiting him pretty well. 4-3, 3.65 ERA, 1.218 WHIP, 42 K, 17 BB in 9 games started. For somebody who was pegged as a Closer at one point, he’s got some longetivity in his games. Seven decisions in nine starts is pretty impressive. The guy is helping to save his homies in the bullpen.

Arbitration eligible in 2014. Barring injury, he won’t be eating at Chico’s Taco‘s next season.

5. Clayton Richard (LHP – SP) – Wow. 1-5, 7.86 ERA, 1.835 WHIP, 18 K, 18 BB. Arbitration eligible after this season. I can’t imagine him getting too much money in arbitration if he doesn’t turn this around.

We may be seeing him. Depending on the deal he signs with the Padres and whether he remembers how to pitch or not.

6. Casey Kelly (RHP – SP) – Kelly is out following Tommy John surgery. He has started 6 games in the Big Leagues. Career: 2-3, 6.21 ERA, 1.690 WHIP, 26 K, 10 BB.

We will see him in El Paso at some point. Hopefully next season. Hopefully as a quick stop before getting back to “The Show”. Casey, feel free to get in touch next season, I’ll show you the best Mexican spot in town… and it’s not the aforementioned Chico’s!

An order of three Chico’s Tacos with green chile sauce (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

7. Joe Wieland (RHP – SP) – Tommy John surgery on July 27, 2012. He is throwing live BP already. Career: 0-4, 4.55 ERA, 1.265 WHIP, 24 K, 9 BB. Not arbitration eligible till 2015.

He could be back by the end of the season. If not, he will be ready for Spring Training next year. With a few of the other Starting Pitchers leaving, I think he will be with the Padres next year.

8. Cory Luebke (LHP – SP) – Much like what happened with Neftali Feliz with the Rangers, the move from reliever to starter started off really well for Luebke. Then he had to have Tommy John Surgery. Recently, Luebke has also been set back in his rehab after being shut down with soreness/tightness. Career: 10-12, 3.25 ERA, 1.104 WHIP, 195 K, 58 BB; 25 of his games have been as a Starting Pitcher.

With the set backs, I would say there is a chance Luebke could be in El Paso early next season. But, not for long… which is good for the Padres.

That is all of the current Starting Pitchers. Next up I will be talking about the Bullpen. Then, it’s on to the Minor Leaguers, who we have a lot better chance of seeing. Feel free to comment on this post or any others. I look forward to hearing from you.

Related articles

• Cory Luebke suffers setback (hardballtalk.nbcsports.com)
• Wieland hitting all rehab marks in return from surgery (mlb.mlb.com)