Tampa Bay Rays should pursue Trevor Cahill and Jhoulys Chacin

With the Tampa Bay Rays exceeding expectations in the 2017 season so far, a move at the trade deadline may not be out of the question. In a good position to claim a wild card spot, the Rays should reach out to the Padres about one of their arms.

Trevor Cahill and Jhoulys Chacin are both having good years, and could easily slide into the final rotation spot in Tampa. Both pitchers would be “rentals” as both are in 1 year deals, so the Tampa Bay Rays would only have control for the rest of the season.

Cahill and Chacin could be perfect targets because the asking price for these players is lower than for Sonny Gray or Yu Darvish. The Rays have a good farm system, and 1 or 2 prospects could likely get a deal done for one of the Padres arms.

Cahill is 4-3 on the season with a 3.69 ERA in 11 Starts. He has struck out 72 batters in only 61.0 innings pitched. He also missed time earlier this season with a strained right shoulder.

Chacin is 9-7 on the year with a 4.26 ERA. In 20 starts, Chacin has pitched 114.0 innings pitched and a WHIP of 1.29.

More from Rays Colored Glasses

• Tampa Bay Rays give richest contract in franchise history to Wander Franco
• Remembering Julio Lugo’s time with the Tampa Bay Rays
• Are you the 2021 FanSided Sports Fan of the Year?
• Rays: Just how good was Randy Arozarena’s rookie season?
• Tampa Bay Rays catcher Mike Zunino stands out despite low batting average

Coming into the season, the Rays had plenty of pitching and were looked at as a possible team to trade away a starter in a deadline deal. But with the Rays sitting at 51-46, 3.5 games back of Boston for the division lead, and tied with the Yankees for the Wild Card, a move to bring in an arm isn’t off the table.

Making a strong push to the playoffs may be held back by the struggles of Blake Snell. Snell is 0-5 with a 4.98 ERA so far this season. Having an arm like Cahill, or Chacin would put the Rays in a better position to push toward October.

Cahill or Chacin would also bring a veteran into the Rays rotation. Cahill and Chacin are currently in their 9^th seasons pitching in the Major Leagues. Which is more than any starter in the Rays Rotation.

Among the two, Cahill has playoff experience, pitching in the 2015 playoffs with the Chicago Cubs. Only Chris Archer and Alex Cobb have playoff experience in the Rays rotation, both pitching in the 2013 Playoffs with the Rays.

Next: Rays waited too long with Alex Cobb

The Tampa Bay Rays have not yet been linked to Trevor Cahill or Jhoulys Chacin, but with nine days left until the deadline, the Rays have time to find what position they will take pushing for the playoffs.