According to reports, free agent Alex Cobb signed a four-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles worth approximately $50-$60 million.
Sources: #Orioles close to agreement with free-agent RHP Alex Cobb. Expected to be at least three years. Sides had been talking about deal in range of three years, $50M. Possibility of deal first mentioned by @JeffPassan.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 20, 2018
Hearing same as Jon and Roch. Four-year deal between $50M and $60M. https://t.co/FdBvzFXmHO
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 20, 2018
Cobb, 30, started in 29 games last season with the Tampa Bay Rays. He had a record of 12-10, an ERA of 3.66, in 179.1 innings pitched, struck out 128 batters, and had 6.4 SO/9. Cobb had a WAR of 2.3 this season.
The right-handed hurler has a WAR of 10.8 in his career.
Report: Baltimore Orioles Sign Alex Cobb
The 2017 season was a bounce-back season for Cobb. To start the 2015 season, Cobb was placed on the 15-day disabled list and eventually needed Tommy John surgery. To start the 2016 season, Cobb was on the 60-day disabled list and did not return to the Rays rotation until the end of the season and only made five starts. In those five starts, Cobb had an ERA of 8.59 and was 1-2.
Due to the injury he sustained in the 2015 season and coming back from Tommy John surgery in 2017, Cobb had to change his usage of pitches. Cobb once threw a split-fingered fastball, and threw it often but is not allowed to throw it currently due to the previous injury. But Cobb went back to throwing a four-seam fastball this season and improved his curveball and used it more often.
Cobb has spent six years in the majors, all of them with the Rays. He has made 115 starts in his career, has a record of 48-35, carries an ERA of 3.50, has thrown three complete games (one shutout), has thrown 700 innings pitched, has issued 204 walks, 570 strikeouts, and has struck out 7.3 batters per nine innings.
Cobb has only played in two playoff series; one American League Wild Card game against the Cleveland Indians in 2013, and the ALDS against the Boston Red Sox. He helped the Rays advance to face the Red Sox after throwing 6.2 innings and striking out five Indians hitters. Cobb has started in two playoff games, he has a record of 1-0, an ERA of 1.54, has thrown 11.2 innings, given up 13 hits, three walks, and has struck out 10.
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