The San Francisco Giants announced Wednesday evening that they have agreed to terms with Alex Cobb. The deal is reportedly worth $20 million for two years. It includes a club option for $10 million in 2024, with a $2 million buyout.
Giants Taking a Risk on Oft-injured Cobb
The right-hander started 18 games last year for the Los Angeles Angels and performed well across 93 1/3 innings. However, Cobb spent a total of 65 days on the IL last season across two separate stints. He has not started more than 20 games since 2018. He missed most of 2019 with arm and groin ailments. Early in his career, Cobb was a reliable presence on the mound for the Tampa Bay Rays, logging around 150 innings and 20+ starts in three consecutive years before Tommy John surgery cost him all of 2015 and most of 2016. Cobb bounced back in 2017 with a career high 179 1/3 innings. He followed it up with 159 1/3 innings in 2018.
Adding Cobb is a reasonable risk though, as he is coming off a strong year with the Angels. If healthy, there’s no reason to believe he can’t build on last year’s performance. The addition of Cobb is an important one as the team works to retain and bolster a staff that featured a number of pending free agents in 2021. He joins Logan Webb and recently re-signed pitchers Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood as likely rotation options. Johnny Cueto remains a free agent after the Giants declined his option earlier this month. Kevin Gausman signed with the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this week.
Cobb has spent the bulk of his career in the American League East. He now joins the reigning NL West champion Giants as they attempt to defend their division title.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
Players Mentioned:
Alex Cobb, Logan Webb , Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, Johnny Cueto, Kevin Gausman
