Orioles, Cashner agree to 2-year contract

The Baltimore Orioles made a significant addition to their perilously thin rotation Thursday, signing veteran right-hander Andrew Cashner to a two-year contract.

Cashner's deal, which guarantees him $16 million, according to a source of MASN's Roch Kubatko, also includes a $10-million option for 2020 that vests with a combined 340 innings pitched over the next two seasons, according to Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish, and becomes a player option at 360 innings. All told, between performance bonuses and his option, he can earn a maximum of $41 million over the next three seasons.

Last year, following a miserable 2016 campaign split between the San Diego Padres and Miami Marlins, Cashner enjoyed a solid season with the Texas Rangers, crafting a 3.40 ERA (138 ERA+) with a 1.32 WHIP over 28 starts. His peripheral numbers, however, weren't nearly as impressive - Cashner's strikeout rate (12.2 percent) ranked dead last among qualified American League starters, contributing to his league-worst 5.30 xFIP - while his velocity dipped for a second straight season, too.

His enigmatic season notwithstanding, Cashner is now poised to slot in third in Baltimore's rotation, behind Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy.

In January, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed his main focus this offseason has been rebuilding his club's starting corps following the losses of Jeremy Hellickson, Chris Tillman, Wade Miley, and Ubaldo Jimenez to free agency.

'"The key will be addressing the starting pitching," Duquette told Jon Meoli of the Baltimore Sun. "If we can do that, and I'm confident that we can - don't ask me how exactly. But if we can do that, I think we can have another good season."