Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Jake Odorizzi and Houston Astros righty Collin McHugh suddenly have much in common. Both are awaiting salary-arbitration hearings. Both are under club control for two more seasons. And both are drawing trade interest, according to major league sources.

Odorizzi, 27, is one of several Rays who might be dealt in payroll-cutting moves, along with closer Alex Colome, designated hitter-outfielder Corey Dickerson and outfielder Denard Span. McHugh, 30, currently projects as the Astros’ sixth starter, though the club considers him valuable depth.

No deal appears close for either pitcher. Most of the teams pursuing free-agent right-hander Yu Darvish consider Odorizzi a backup plan, sources say. Other teams seem unlikely to get serious about trade candidates such as Odorizzi and McHugh until they exhaust lesser free-agent possibilities such as righty Andrew Cashner.

According to sources:

*The Minnesota Twins, who learned on Tuesday that right-hander Ervin Santana will be out 10 to 12 weeks after undergoing surgery on the middle finger of his throwing hand, are considering both Odorizzi and McHugh as they ponder adding one starting pitcher through free agency and another through trade.

*The Baltimore Orioles, who currently count right-handers Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy as their only reliable starters, remain in the mix for a variety of starting pitchers in free agency and trade, including Odorizzi and possibly McHugh.

*The intentions of the New York Yankees, who have checked in on Odorizzi at various points, are less clear. The Yankees’ rotation seemingly is set with Masahiro Tanaka, Luis Severino, Sonny Gray, CC Sabathia and Jordan Montgomery. But the team has been trying to trade center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury to clear money for other pursuits, including a possible run at Darvish.

*The Los Angeles Dodgers want to move outfielder Matt Kemp to create their own payroll flexibility, which might be another contributing factor in the deliberate pace of the Darvish negotiations. The Twins, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies are among the other clubs that have shown some level of interest in Darvish.

The splits in the arbitration cases of Odorizzi and McHugh are not terribly significant—Odorizzi asked for $6.3 million and the Rays offered $6.05 million, while McHugh asked for $5 million and the Astros offered $4.55 million. But regardless of the outcomes, the Rays would like to move Odorizzi’s money, and the Astros might want the payroll flexibility they would gain from trading McHugh.

Neither pitcher will be a giveaway due to their relatively modest salaries and two years of control, sources say.

Odorizzi finished with a 4.14 ERA and allowed 30 home runs in 143 1/3 innings last season, missing time from July 26 to Aug. 9 due to a lower back strain but producing a 1.72 ERA in his final six starts.

McHugh did not pitch in the majors until July 22 due to a posterior impingement in his right elbow, then produced a 3.55 ERA as a starter in 63 1/3 innings. He also made two relief appearances in the postseason, allowing three runs in six innings.

(Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)