LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Orioles added to their pitching depth on Tuesday, acquiring right-handed pitcher Alec Asher from the Phillies in exchange for a player to be named or cash considerations.
Asher, 25, spent most of last season at Triple-A and was suspended 80 games in June for testing positive for performance-enhancing drug use.
"Good young arm with options. ... I think the plan is for him to come to camp with us, seeing if we can work him in for an outing," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of Asher, who pitched against Baltimore earlier this spring. "Another good arm that is maneuverable for us. He's got some challenges he's gotten behind him."
Asher made five starts with the Phillies last season, going 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA (seven earned runs over 27 2/3 innings), and he went 3-0 with a 1.53 ERA over four starts with Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2016. He has gone 32-33 with a 3.39 ERA and 466 strikeouts over 110 career Minor League games (89 starts).
"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," executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said in a text message. "He has good size, three Major League pitches and has shown command of himself and his pitches."
Asher was originally selected in the fourth round of the 2012 Draft by the Rangers, and he came to the Phillies in the Cole Hamels trade.