Baltimore Orioles: Six Post-Winter Meetings Free Agent Pitching Targets

Would Andrew Cashner want to return to the Baltimore Orioles?

I’ve seen Andrew Cashner’s name thrown out there more and more lately, which is slightly surprising. Cashner clearly loves pitching in Baltimore and loved his time with the Orioles, but he was shipped up to Boston at the 2019 trade deadline, with his expiring contract, for two teenage prospects out of the Dominican Summer League.

Cashner was supposed to shore up Boston’s rotation to close out the season, but his time in Fenway Park was a disaster (6.20 ERA, 12% walk rate), just like Boston’s end to the season.

As Dan Connolly writes,

"Cashner has a close relationship with Orioles’ pitching coach Doug Brocail, who also coached him in Texas. Cashner wasn’t bitter about being dealt last July; in fact, he was appreciative that Elias found him a desirable landing spot. Cashner enjoyed his time in Baltimore and said last year that he’d be open to returning."

Before being moved, Cashner was 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and was one of the few Orioles pitchers not giving up an enormous amount of home runs (1.03/9 IP). He was worth 1.8 fWAR through 17 starts in Baltimore, likely on his way to surpassing his career-high mark of 2.7 back in 2013 with the San Diego Padres. After an ugly debut in Birdland in 2018, Cashner was actually fun to watch last year.

If the 33-year-old righty is open to a reunion, I’m for it, and I believe a good percentage of Orioles fans will be, as well. Unlike many pitchers within the tier Baltimore is shopping in, Cashner isn’t coming off an injury or a significant drop off in production. Bring the band back together for another ride. What’s the worst that could happen? The Orioles finish in last place? (insert sarcasm).