Orioles' deal with Andrew Cashner is official

SARASOTA, Fla. - The negotiations began back in November, when Orioles vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson met face-to-bearded face with veteran right-hander Andrew Cashner. Talks gained and lost momentum, optimism rose and sank. But the club sliced through a thawing market today and reeled in its first significant free agent while addressing its most pressing need.

Cashner passed his physical exam this afternoon and signed a two-year, $16 million contract that includes an option for 2020 and incentives that can bring the total value to $41 million.

Closer Zach Britton was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to create room on the 40-man roster. Britton is recovering from Dec. 21 surgery on his right Achilles.

Manager Buck Showalter expects Cashner back in camp on Sunday and on the field the following day.

"I'm excited," Cashner said. "It's definitely a new journey for me. There's some familiar faces. Buck (living in) Texas, it's pretty cool to be back with somebody from Texas. Just bring a little home up here and try and get us back to the postseason.

"I thought it would get done just from the conversations I had with Brady in November. I knew it was going to take a little bit, but I think the amount of things that we talked about in November, I thought it was a great building block."

Cashner will receive $5 million this summer and $8 million in 2019, with the other $3 million deferred from 2020-2022. The option vests at 340 innings and becomes a player option at 360 innings.

The incentives can total $5 million each year based on the number of starts and innings. There's $1.525 million per season in bonuses based on starts - $250,000 each for 10 and 15 starts, $625,000 for 20 and $400,000 for 30. Cashner also can earn $3.475 million each year based on innings - $250,000 for 110 and 120, $275,000 for 130, $350,000 for 140, $750,000 for 150 and $400,000 for 170, 180, 190 and 200.

His career high is 184 2/3 innings in 2015 with the Padres.

The contract also includes award bonuses, including $1.5 million for the Cy Young Award, according to FanRag Sports.

The Orioles entered camp with Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman as their only two confirmed starters. Cashner gives them a trio, along with 36 pitchers in camp, and they'll continue negotiations to land another arm via free agency or trade.

"You know, we just signed Andrew Cashner and added him to our club and we'll see where those things take us," Showalter said. "My focus is going to continue to be on these 36 pitchers now who are here and trying to make sure ...

"We'd love to be able to be eight or nine or 10 deep because it's a very hard thing to do to pitch, physically. I don't think we'll ever quit looking for ways to get better. That's something that consumes us every day since the last pitch was thrown last year."

Cashner, 31, has spent one season in the American League, going 11-11 with a 3.40 ERA, 1.320 WHIP and career-high 4.6 WAR in 28 starts with the Rangers last summer. A 42-64 career record is countered by a 3.80 ERA in his eight major league seasons.

Of concern is the 4.6 strikeouts per nine innings last season, the lowest mark of his career, and a fastball that's dipped in velocity to around 93 mph, but his 48.6 groundball percentage ranked sixth in the league. MLBTradeRumors.com projected that he'd receive a two-year, $20 million contract from the Athletics and he's certainly an upgrade for an Orioles rotation that posted a club-worst 5.70 ERA in 2017.

"He's a veteran starter that's a good deal for both us and him," Showalter said. "Obviously, it's a need that we had. We think we have some people here that can do a job and also we want to have depth as a starting pitcher. Obviously, we've said many times how much further it goes than just five starting pitchers.

"He's a guy who's pitched well in the American League. That's something that I think played in his favor. And doing a lot of the homework on the other part of it, I think we just think it's a good all-around fit for us and especially it's something that is a big need for us and something that's been in the works for quite a while.

"Sometimes, we get so involved because it doesn't happen the first two weeks after the season's over, but these things don't happen easily. We think we have some good things to sell here and I think Andrew knew that."

It just required patience on both sides.

"Look, it's something that didn't come about overnight," said agent Jeff Berry of CAA. "The Orioles, I think this is something that they've stayed on and been talking with and about Andrew for a good while. I think their initial interest goes back to the general managers meetings in November."

Asked what took so long, Berry was stumped for an answer.

"I don't know," he said. "There's like a camp at IMG (in Bradenton) or something going on right now, right? You guys can go over there and maybe ask them.

"On something like that, this has been an unprecedented market. I don't think that there is anything about this that has been regular. For me to be able to sit here and say exactly what a specific reason is, I don't know. More importantly, this is not the 10,000 foot view, but just on a micro-level, just for Andrew, I'm thrilled to have him here. I think the Orioles did a good job. It is late. What day is today, Feb. 15? Which is highly unusual to be having a press conference or a player signing like this at that time of the year. So that said, I do think it's a great fit.

"I think he'll do very well and I think the Orioles did a tremendous job in their ongoing pursuit even though it took longer than most to consummate."

Said Cashner: "I don't think it's been difficult. It's been interesting, it's been different. I met with Brady back in November and we've had dialogue ever since. He's reached out to me and I've reached out to him and I think the communication's been great throughout the whole process."

Cashner should be in uniform for Monday's first full-squad workout. Executive vice president Dan Duquette has stated a desire to add pitchers by March 1.

"I think as a starting pitcher it's important not just to get in and get ready, but meet your teammates, get to know the coaching staff, get to know the clubbies, get to know everybody and make it a family atmosphere," Cashner said.

The Orioles are Cashner's fifth team in nine years and his fourth over the last three seasons. He's about to receive another education.

"I don't know a lot," he said. "I do know that they need some starting pitching and here it is. Show up every day and whoever I can help out, help out. And my job is to come here and pitch and win."

Cashner, a first-round pick of the Cubs in 2008 out of Texas Christian University - he was drafted four times before signing - owns a career 2.57 ERA in two starts at Camden Yards, a 2.77 ERA in two starts at Rogers Centre and a 2.57 ERA in two starts at Tropicana Field. He allowed five runs in five innings in his only start at Fenway Park and he hasn't pitched at Yankee Stadium.

"I think it's a tremendous fit," Berry said. "I think Andrew had a very good year last year in Texas in the American League. I think he'll continue to progress and I feel like he's excited. When you're in a free agent process, a lot of it, too, is when you have a team that you know, 'Look, we want you, we believe in you and we know what you can accomplish,' I think that's a big part of it."