Texas Rangers: 5 Sleeper Players To Watch In 2017

The Texas Rangers signed starting pitcher Andrew Cashner to a one-year $10 million dollar deal over the off-season. While Cashner is a well-known player he is still a sleeper player this season for the Rangers. After a disastrous 2016 campaign many have given up on Cashner being a superstar pitcher.

Cashner is notoriously known for being part of the deal that sent All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo to the Chicago Cubs. The San Diego Padres got hard-throwing Cashner in return, but he was not able to live up to the hype.

Battling injuries throughout his seven-year Major League career. Cashner has only been able to make 30 starts in a season once. Now 30-years-old can the former 1st round pick get his career back on track?

In 2016 Cashner went 5-11 5.25 ERA in 28 games (27 starts) between the Padres and Miami Marlins. The last two seasons have been rough for Cashner, but before that he was a solid pitcher.

In 2014 Cashner went 5-7 2.55 ERA in 19 starts with two shutouts. He only allowed seven homers in 129 innings and was the Padres ace. That was arguably Cashner’s best season in the Major Leagues. Could the Rangers see the ’14 version of Cashner in 2017?

It’s possible, but Cashner was pitching in pitcher-friendly Petco Park and is now in hitter-friendly Globe Life. Despite all the negative Cashner has the potential to be a superstar pitcher in the MLB. He is on this list because if everything goes right for Cashner the Rangers could potentially have a three-headed ace with Yu Darvish, Cole Hamels, and Cashner in 2017.