Orioles sign free-agent starter Dan Straily - BaltimoreBaseball.com
Rich Dubroff

Orioles sign free-agent starter Dan Straily

Eager to add another experienced major league starter, the Orioles signed Dan Straily on Friday.

Straily, a 30-year-old right-hander released by the Miami Marlins on March 25, was immediately added to the major league roster.

In seven seasons with Oakland, the Chicago Cubs, Houston, Cincinnati and Miami, Straily is 42-36 with a 4.23 ERA.

His best season came in 2016 when he was 14-8 with a 3.76 ERA with the Reds.

Straily pitched seven games for the Cubs in 2014 when manager Brandon Hyde was a coach, and four games for the Astros in 2015 when Mike Elias worked in Houston’s front office.

“We pursued Dan Straily immediately once he became available,” Elias said in a statement. “He’s the type of accomplished major league starter who will help stabilize our pitching staff. We are hoping to work him into our rotation soon.”

To make room for Straily, the Orioles designed infielder Drew Jackson for assignment.

Jackson, a Rule 5 pick, will be offered to the other 29 teams before being offered back to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Philadelphia drafted Jackson and then traded him to the Orioles for international signing bonus money.

In three games, Jackson was hitless in three at-bats. He had shown an ability to play both the infield and outfield during spring training.

“It was tough taking Drew off the roster,” Elias said. “His versatility has always been attractive, and he has shown tremendous effort and had a great attitude. He has a bright career ahead of him. We simply decided we wanted 13 pitchers for the foreseeable future and had to make a tough call. It is never easy to carry Rule 5 picks all year.”

When the season began, the Orioles had three Rule 5 picks, Jackson, reliever Pedro Araujo and shortstop Richie Martin. On Wednesday, Araujo, who was drafted from Chicago in December 2017, was placed on waivers, but cleared and returned to the Cubs.

On Friday afternoon, the Orioles reacquired Araujo from Chicago in return for international bonus money. He was assigned to Double-A Bowie.

RAVENS NEWS from BaltimoreSports.com

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