Andrew Cashner to the Baltimore Orioles, per report

Andrew Cashner and the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a two year, $16 million contract, per multiple reports on Twitter. Cashner spent the 2017 season with the Texas Rangers on a one year, $10 million deal, putting up a 3.40 ERA and a 4.61 FIP in 166 innings.

There's a certain serendipity in the Orioles signing Cashner — I have previously compared Cashner's 2017 season to Yovani Gallardo's 2015 season with the Rangers, putting up a solid performance despite significant red flags. Gallardo ended up signing a two year, $22 million dal with Baltimore after the 2015 season.

There were some indications that Texas was interested in Cashner returning on a short-term deal, and I floated the possibility of a one year, $10-12M deal for him earlier this week. Texas apparently didn't feel a two year commitment at $16 million was worthwhile, and while I think such a contract would be relatively low-risk, I can understand as well why a team would see Cashner's cratering K rate from last season and feel he's not worth that amount.

UPDATE — Jon Heyman says there is a third year player option for $10 million that Cashner can exercise if he reaches 360 innings in 2018-19. Jerry Crasnick says the option vests if Cashner throws 340 innings in 2018-19.