The Detroit Tigers have made a significant move to bolster their pitching rotation. Right-hander Alex Cobb has agreed to a one-year contract with the team, according to sources familiar with the negotiations who have spoken to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The financial details of the deal, which is pending a physical, are not yet publicly known.
The deal marks the latest development in the Tigers’ offseason efforts to revamp their roster and build a competitive squad for the upcoming season. Cobb posted a 2.76 ERA with three walks and 10 strikeouts across 16 1/3 innings in three starts for the Cleveland Guardians in the 2024 season. He missed most of the season due to left hip surgery and a right shoulder injury.
Tigers Sign Alex Cobb
Cobb is more of a back-of-the-rotation starter who can put up ground balls and commands his pitches – hasn’t pitched a full season since 2023 with the San Francisco Giants. He registered a 3.87 ERA with 37 walks and 131 strikeouts across 151 1/3 innings in 28 starts. That year, Cobb excelled in walk rate (5.7%, 87th percentile) and ground-ball rate (57.8%, 95th percentile). However, his strikeout rate (2.03%, 29th percentile) and whiff rate (21.7%, 16th percentile) were areas for improvement.
Cobb, a 13-year MLB veteran, boasts an impressive resume. He has pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays (2011-14, 2016-17), Baltimore Orioles (2018-2020), Los Angeles Angels (2021), Giants (2022-23) and Guardians (2024). His career statistics include a 3.84 ERA across 233 starts, spanning 1,327 2/3 innings.
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