Looking to fill in their starting rotation, the Baltimore Orioles recently met with free-agent Andrew Cashner, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
The 31-year-old Cashner posted a 3.40 ERA over 28 games in 2017 with the Texas Rangers. However, the right-hander's peripheral numbers indicate some regression, as he posted a 4.61 FIP and 4.64 K/9 - the second-worst strikeout rate among qualified starters last year.
Last year, the Orioles rotation ranked dead last in ERA, and 27th by FanGraphs' WAR. However, the departure of Ubaldo Jimenez and Wade Miley this offseason to free agency will likely help that.
Heading into the 2018 campaign, the Orioles rotation consists of Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman, with some questions remaining about who fills the final three spots. Gabriel Ynoa, Alex Asher, and Mike Wright appear to be realistic internal candidates, despite being inexperienced and ineffective at the major-league level.
Over his eight-year career, Cashner owns a 3.80 ERA in 893 innings between the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Miami Marlins, and Rangers.
