Gausman and Bundy no longer lonely in Orioles rotation

SARASOTA, Fla. - The winter line of questioning for Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman revolved around the oddity of being the only two confirmed starters in the Orioles rotation. They heard about it in every interview. They talked about it in phone conversations. They couldn't escape it.

There was no denying it or how unusual the circumstances. And they could joke about it while also wondering, like everyone else, how it would play out.

Now they know. Two free agent signings and a re-signing later.

Alex Cobb's agreement on a four-year, $57 million deal this week capped off a flurry of moves in spring training that seemed aggressive even by the Orioles' standards of February and March madness.

Andrew Cashner and Chris Tillman fill out the five-man bracket. No more quips about Bundy, Gausman and pray for three days of rain - not an improbable scenario given last year's weather issues.

"Obviously, I feel good," Gausman said. "I'm happy to have Tilly back and bring in a guy who had a really good year last year in Cashner. You watch him throw his bullpens, that sinker, I think that'll play in any ballpark, so that's exciting. And Cobb obviously is an established guy in the American League East.

"I think when you can do it in this division, it kind of shows everybody else that you're the real deal. We're happy to have him. He's a guy who goes out there and competes and one of his best pitches (changeup) he didn't really have last year and he was able to do what he did, so obviously he's got other great pitches, too. To not have a pitch that was big for you in the past, to know a month into the season that you didn't have a good feel for it and that he was going to go with a two-pitch mix really is pretty impressive.

"A guy that throws a split, definitely looking to talk to him about that. We've never had another guy, a starter, who did it other than Miguel (Gonzalez), so I'm excited to talk to him about that. I think especially with how the offseason was and everybody talking about teams not competing and just kind of banking on the draft, I think it sends a message to all the guys in here that ownership is willing to spend the money and go get, not just one guy, but they got three guys really. It's exciting. I think it puts a little life into us."

So it does more than just put three warm bodies in the rotation.

"We're ready to go," said Bundy, who will start the March 29 opener against the Twins at Camden Yards. "We've got Cash and then we've got Cobb and those are two guys who have been around the league and know how to pitch at this level, so they're going to get guys out for us and they should be a good contribution to the team and we're ready to rock now."

The organization ignored its aversion to four-year contracts for pitchers and removed Cobb from the free agent market. The significance radiated throughout the clubhouse.

"I think it shows that they have confidence in him, that they believe he's not only going to be good for one year, but that he's going to be a foundation for our organization for the next four years," Gausman said.

"As a guy who's going to be here for at least a couple more, it's good to know that ownership is willing to go out and get guys and compete, especially in this division where there's a lot that went on in the offseason with other teams. That's exciting to know that they're watching and are kind of like, 'All right, we want to be relevant, too,' so it's good. Just a guy that has done it in this division year after year is exciting."

"It shows a lot," Bundy said. "They're ready to win now and they believe in the group of guys we've got here right now. Giving him four years like that, I think that kind of surprised everyone, but it just shows they're ready to go and trying to win right now."

More roster cuts are coming today. Manager Buck Showalter wants closure for certain players and clarity for others.

Hunter Harvey already was shipped to the minor league complex, but he's knocking on the door.

"He's a very talented kid," Gausman said. "He's had some unfortunate luck, him and Bundy kind of in a similar category. Just some bad luck. I told him (Wednesday) that he had a great spring and I was proud of what he did here. Really excited for him going forward. Just told him to go out there and compete.

"I think if he would have come into camp and we didn't sign Cobb and he had a little bit more experience in the minor leagues, he might have pitched himself onto this team. I think he's got some confidence right now. He had a great spring. He just needs to stay healthy."