SURPRISE, AZ -- Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry announced Saturday that Andrew Cashner will be the club's fifth starter, leaving Carlos Silva without a roster spot.
Cashner was drafted 19th overall by the Cubs in the 2008 Major League Baseball Amateur draft.
That summer he appeared in six games for the Boise Hawks tallying a 1-1 record.
The Texas native was on the fast track to the majors getting his first call up midway through the 2010 season when he worked primarily in a relief role.
The choice to make Cashner the team's fifth starter has put the Cubs in an interesting situation with Carlos Silva, who was acquired by the team last year from the Seattle Mariners for Milton Bradley.
Hendry said Silva would be offered a minor league assignment, but Silva said there was "no chance" he would report to Triple-A Iowa.
If Silva opts to be released, the Cubs are on the hook for his $11.5 million salary this season.
Silva, who started last season with eight straight wins, was at the center of a brawl at the beginning of spring training and has not pitched well this spring.
He was 1-2 with a 10.90 ERA in five appearances this spring after going 10-6 with a 4.22 ERA in 21 starts last year in his first season with the Cubs.
Cashner started Saturday's game against the Texas Rangers allowing five runs in the first inning before settling down and not allowing a run for the rest of the outing.
