Andrew Cashner Wouldn't Have Signed With The Orioles If They Didn't Allow Him To Keep His Beard

Last month, the Baltimore Orioles signed free agent right-handed pitcher Andrew Cashner to a two-year deal worth $16 million. Cashner joins an Orioles rotation that features Kevin Gausman, Dylan Bundy and Chris Tillman, but that almost didn’t happen. Cashner, who had a 3.40 ERA in 166.2 innings for the Rangers last year, had to request permission from Orioles owners to keep his beard before agreeing to sign with the club. Had they denied his request, he wouldn’t have signed with Baltimore.

It contains one interesting little tidbit, though: Cashner would not have signed his two-year deal with the Orioles if they had not allowed him to keep his beard. From the story:

Cashner’s schedule, which has to this point occurred mostly outside the public view, has allowed for all of his personality to shine in the Orioles clubhouse. It’s about creating comfort on both sides, something he’s particularly invested in. That’s why he requested and received ownership’s assurance that his trademark beard can stay, provided it is trimmed, on a club where facial hair outside a well-manicured goatee is outlawed.

“I just think it’s a part of who I am, and it’s a part of my personality — it’s just me,” he said. “I think this length is kind of what it’s supposed to be, I guess.”

Yo, I respect the fuck out of this. First of all, facial hair rules in baseball are the dumbest fucking thing going. The Yankees have had that rule forever, and it has always come off as such a “we think we’re better than everyone else” gesture. The Marlins adopted the rule for a season and then ditched it immediately after everybody on the team complained about it.

Guess who was on the Marlins that year? Andrew Cashner! And Cashner even went as far as to publicly stating that he would not re-sign with the Marlins if they still had the rule. Miami ditched the rule, but Cashner signed elsewhere anyway.

I honestly don’t understand why teams care about this stuff. It’s not an office setting; it’s a baseball field. But even in an office setting, who the fuck cares? Before my Barstool days, I was in the interviewing process with a company who did not allow facial hair at all, and once I found that out, I dropped out. All set, dog. I shouldn’t have to change my physical appearance to fit your standards. This is how I look.

Non-beard guys won’t get it. They’ll think it’s diva behavior to make such a big stink about it and whatnot. But to the clean-shaven guys out there, would you shave your eyebrows for a job? That’s basically what beard guys feel like you’re asking us when we get slapped with a facial hair policy. No thanks.