Brach on Cashner: "I think it's a really good pickup for us"

SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielders Crag Gentry, signed to a minor league deal last week, and DJ Stewart are early arrivals at camp.

Andrew Cashner, signed yesterday to a two-year, $16 million contract with an option for 2020, has been assigned No. 54. Reliever Jimmy Yacabonis also is wearing 54, but those days are ... wait for it ... numbered.

Brad Brach was Cashner's teammate in San Diego back in 2012-2013 and offered a nice scouting report this morning as media gathered at his locker.

"He's a competitor, man," Brach said. "When he goes out there, there's not many guys that I've seen out there as fired (up) as he is. When he gets out there, he wants to have the ball. That's the kind of guy you want on your team. That's for sure.

"I was with him when he was a bullpen guy and the stuff he had is electric, but it's been pretty impressive to watch him now transition to being a starter and kind of pitching to contact, which is not, when I first played with him that was not the type pitcher he was. Yeah, I think it's a really good pickup for us and he's going to be a competitor and he's going to pitch really well this year."

Players were getting a bit antsy as pitchers and catchers reported and there hadn't been any significant signings or trade acquisitions, especially for a rotation that posted a 5.70 ERA last year. Cashner's arrival brings a certain level of comfort, though there's more work to be done.

"Definitely, it goes to show you that we're still trying to win," Brach said. "You can tell that we still had a couple of holes in the rotation that we were hoping to fill and going out and buying somebody like Cashner is definitely a good indication of what we're trying to do this year, which is definitely a good sign to see."

Cashner will assume a leadership role on the staff.

"Yeah, definitely," Brach said. "I think he's not afraid to kind of talk to guys, too. He's going to be a good mentor for them and I think the way he goes about his business, too. It's kind of one of those things we talked about when we were in San Diego. We kind of wish ... when you're younger you just don't realize what it takes to be a major leaguer and we wish we took our time in San Diego a little bit more seriously when I was there and he's definitely learned that.

"Just getting to talk to him the last couple of years, I think he's matured a lot and he's definitely going to be a big help for the guys who are younger."

Nothing wrong with having a tough guy in the clubhouse. A little attitude can go a long way.

"I think it rubs off on people whether you want it to or not," Brach said. "I think at some point, his personality or the way he goes about stuff will rub off on you. I think he's got a real infectious personality with them. He's going to be a really good guy for the young guys to talk to. I hope they have the chance to talk to him, because he knows a lot about pitching.

"He's done both. He's been a back end reliever, he's been a starter. He's been really good, he's been not so good. So I think he's got a lot of experience and it can only help moving forward."

Cashner joins a rotation that includes Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman and two more question marks. His contract can max out at three years and $41 million with the option, incentives and bonuses. The performance and award bonus payments, if met, are deferred two and three years.

Cashner will be on the field for Monday's first full-squad workout.

"It's going to be important," Bundy said. "It sounds like he's ready to pitch and ready to get here, so it should be exciting. We were kind of waiting on this and we're glad it's here."

Waiting on Cashner or any starter to fill out the rotation?

"I guess a move, but, yeah, I've heard his name passed around quite a few times," Bundy said. "He's a groundball pitcher, so that's going to be interesting. I'd like to figure out that two-seamer he's got. He keeps it on the ground and lets our defense work and that's kind of what we like to do here."

As for Stewart, he has a locker in the main clubhouse instead of across the hall in the auxiliary setup. This is his first major league camp after the Orioles made him the 25th overall pick in 2015 out of Florida State University.

"It feels great," he said. "To finally get the opportunity to come over here and learn from the guys who have been doing it for so long, it's a great opportunity for me and a great time for me to learn and get as much information and become a better player."

Stewart's production is increasing as he climbs the organizational ladder. Though he's always been an on-base guy, he crafted a .278/.378/.481 slash line last season at Double-A Bowie with 26 doubles, two triples, 21 home runs, 79 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 24 attempts.

"I think I just got back to being who I was," he said, "and the older you get, the more mature you become, and just staying within myself and not trying to do too much and try to put (aside) the name and title of where I was drafted and just going out there and relaxing and have fun again. And I had a successful season."

Stewart has been able to mute the critics, but he naturally didn't want to be labeled a draft bust.

"Not really like worry about what anyone was saying, but your first impression is a lasting impression, so I wanted to do everything I could for everyone to know who I was," Stewart said. "I think I just put that in my head a little bit too much, so kind of going back to the basics and just being DJ and that's all I can do to be successful for myself."

Stewart said he wasn't expected an invitation to camp, but he joins Bowie teammates Cedric Mullins and Ryan Mountcastle - the latter assigned to the auxiliary clubhouse.

"You're always hoping for an invite because this is where you want to be, obviously," he said. "I was grateful for the opportunity and really excited when I found I was coming. It's always good to see yourself get rewarded for the things that you do, but you can't be complacent. Just because I got invited, it's still a job. I still have to come over here and work, I still have to prove myself and that's what I'm looking to do every single day."

Stewart made the short drive from Twin Lakes Park last spring as an extra, so he's had some exposure to his present environment. Just a much smaller dose.

"Just watching the guys that are out there playing - I didn't play very much when I came over here - but you can always learn something, whether you're playing or not playing," he said. "To actually watch the guys and just kind of ask questions and get a feel for how they do things, because they're here for a reason, you can always learn from them. I definitely learned things from them, but it's always better to be here right now and learn even more."

Note: The Orioles announced their minor league coaching staffs. As reported, Buck Britton will manage at Single-A Delmarva, with Ryan Minor moving up to high Single-A Frederick. Keith Bodie will serve as hitting coach at Bowie, with Butch Davis going to Triple-A Norfolk as Sean Berry's replacement.

Bobby Rose has been hired as Delmarva hitting coach following Britton's promotion.