Alec Asher on trade: "You never think it's going to be you"

SARASOTA, Fla. - Dylan Bundy will start Thursday against the Tigers in the last Grapefruit League game, followed by Vidal Nuño and Darren O'Day in relief.

No starter is listed for Friday's exhibition game at Triple-A Norfolk, which is threatened by rain.

Alec Asher spoke to the media in front of his locker this morning after meeting with manager Buck Showalter, still unsure of his schedule and whether he might pitch in an exhibition game. He brought his Phillies equipment bag.

Showalter indicated yesterday that he'd like to use Asher, acquired from the Phillies for a player to be named later or cash, before the team heads to Baltimore.

Asher said he was "a little surprised" by the trade, his second in two years. He was involved in the Cole Hamels deal with the Rangers.

"You never think it's going to be you," he said. "It's just the nature of the job. You just do as you're told. Happy to be here, excited. I'm ready to start a new chapter."

It's late in camp to be switching teams and figuring out where to live, but Asher will deal with it. Comes with the job.

"It's tough," he said. "It's definitely different than being traded during the season. I mean, you don't really have a say. You get acclimated, you get used to it. It's a way of life and it's something that's fun."

The Orioles got a glimpse of Asher on March 5 at Ed Smith Stadium. He allowed one run and two hits over three innings in his best outing of the spring, which shows him holding a 7.80 ERA and 1.93 WHIP in six games (two starts).

Mark Trumbo and Welington Castillo doubled off Asher in the fourth and Seth Smith walked in the fifth.

"It's a tough team, they're a good team," Asher said. "You know they're going to swing the bats, so it's nice to be on this side of it. I'm excited to join these guys and help win some games."

Asher could join the Triple-A Norfolk rotation or be used as a multiple-inning reliever. And he possesses two minor league options, which could put him on the shuttle. There's always room.

"I would say being traded for is good," said Asher, who's wearing No. 51. "It means the team that's getting you wants you, so it's exciting just to be able to come over here and try to help them win games."

Asher hasn't pitched since Saturday against the Red Sox in Fort Myers, where he allowed two runs in three innings.

"He said he was going to get with me on when I'm going to throw and stuff like that," he said.