Report: Orioles discussing Ramirez with Rays

With Andrew Cashner reportedly on the move to Miami, the Baltimore Orioles appear to be getting creative in their efforts to bolster their beleaguered rotation.

Sources told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick the Orioles have talked to the Tampa Bay Rays about acquiring right-handed reliever Erasmo Ramirez as a starter, a role he's held on and off during his five-year career. Though the status of the trade talks remain unclear, it's worth noting the Orioles were aggressively pursuing Cashner before the Marlins reportedly acquired him Friday in a trade with the San Diego Padres.

The AL East-leading Orioles have been eager to add another starter to their scuffling rotation, which entered play Friday with the sixth-highest ERA in baseball at 4.91.

Ramirez, 26, has appeared almost exclusively out of the bullpen this season for the last-place Rays, pitching to a 3.90 ERA (4.56 FIP) with 46 strikeouts in 60 innings. His only start this year was an April 16 outing against the White Sox, whom he held to three hits and no walks over 5 2/3 scoreless frames.

Signed by Seattle as an amateur free agent in 2012, Ramirez has made 63 career starts, compiling a 4.11 ERA and 1.254 WHIP across 342 innings.