The Orioles have acquired righty Alec Asher from the Phillies, per a team announcement. Baltimore will send a player to be named in the transaction, which gives Philadelphia an open 40-man spot.
This is the second trade the 25-year-old Asher has been a part of since the Rangers chose him in the fourth round of the 2012 draft. Texas sent him to Philadelphia as part of the package to acquire Cole Hamels in 2015, though Asher scuffled that year in his major league debut with the Phillies. Across seven starts and 29 innings, he logged a 9.31 ERA, 4.97 K/9, 3.1 BB/9 and a 36.1 percent ground-ball rate. Asher was far more effective at the big league level last season (2.28 ERA, 4.23 K/9, 1.3 B/9 and a 35.2 percent grounder rate), but he did serve an 80-game Triple-A suspension after testing positive for a testosterone-related performance-enhancing drug.
With two minor league options remaining, Asher figures to see further Triple-A time with Baltimore, though general manager Dan Duquette expects him to contribute to the Orioles this year.
“Asher is a solid major league pitcher who our scouts have liked for a few seasons that we believe will help our club this season,” said Duquette (via Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun). “He has good size, three major league pitches and command of himself and his pitches.”
Jesumel Valentin taking this spot
Recant. This means Brock Stassi is taking Asher’s spot on the Phillies 40-Man Roster.
Man! talk about a guy who either really sucks or is really good. One year an era of 9 then the next an era of 2. I wonder who we are getting.
Hes a solid back of the rotation guy. If you take out those 10 or so MLB starts in 2015, he hasn’t done anything but pitch well for the Phillies through out AA, AAA and MLB.
Neither, and he might be about the combined lines
His 7 games in 2015 he was unbelievably unlucky with balls leaving the park (2.48 HA/9) and allowed way more runners than he should have overall (including a high-side .330 BAbip).
His 5 games in 2016 saw the HR disappear nearly completely (0.33 HR/9) which isn’t realistic, and he sported an unrealistically low .231 BAbip. Ironically, his K/9 actually went down, although the high walk total also plummeted (both of which are likely a result of the SSS)
Overall he’s a pretty extreme pitch-to-contact Fly-Ball Pitcher with some HR issues (think what Weaver and Holland have put up the last two seasons) headed to a hitters park/division. I kind of doubt he will stick around in the majors for Balt (or if he does, I suspect it will infuriate you all)
I was finally starting to like him. Best of luck!
Will he be allowed to bring his own PEDs or will the Orioles supply those for him?
Chris Davis has plenty. I’m sure he’ll share
Chris Davis was busted for Adderall that he wasn’t cleared to take.
He was cleared to take it the issue was he didn’t refile the paperwork.
Nice pull, PTBNL pending. Seems a guy to use on the Triple-A MLB shuttle.
I was going to say that. The reason why he went from having an ERA of 9 to an ERA of 2 because of PEDs he has been caught multiple times I think but still thinks he can get away with it. I hate guys like that who think they are above everyone and can use stuff that isn’t allowed and get away with it
I prefer Jane Asher.
So did Paul McCartney…for a while.
Phils should have kept him
I think he could be a very solid back of the rotation starter, and if an injury occurs, he’ll probably get the call
Stumpf last year and Asher this year. Both PED guys who are no longer in phils organization. Asher 4th or 5th starter in AAA with LHV at best
said Duquette “He has good size, three major league pitches and command of himself and his pitches.”
…funny, getting caught using actual PEDs (not just a banned substance) doesn’t generally leave me thinking “command of himself”
Yeah that was a weird statement no matter how you look at it really