{"id":43631,"date":"2021-02-03T21:12:54","date_gmt":"2021-02-04T02:12:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=43631"},"modified":"2021-02-03T21:23:35","modified_gmt":"2021-02-04T02:23:35","slug":"los-angeles-angels-trade-for-alex-cobb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2021\/02\/03\/los-angeles-angels-trade-for-alex-cobb\/","title":{"rendered":"Los Angeles Angels Trade for Alex Cobb"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Los Angeles Angels<\/a> trade for Alex Cobb<\/strong><\/a> became official Tuesday afternoon. The acquisition of the former Baltimore Orioles<\/a> starter is the front office’s latest attempt to add depth to the team’s beleaguered pitching staff. The Angels sent infielder Jahmai Jones<\/strong><\/a> to the Orioles, who also sent back cash considerations to help offset Cobb’s $15 million salary for the 2021 season. Jones was a 2nd round pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, but his prospect star had dimmed in recent seasons. He did, however, make his MLB debut during 2020.<\/p>\n

As for Cobb, the team is hoping to see him return to the success he had at the beginning of his career in Tampa Bay<\/a>. Simply put, Baltimore wasn’t kind to the right-hander, as he posted a 5.10 ERA during his three seasons with the organization. For his career, Cobb’s ERA is 3.88 over the course of nine seasons. The Angels trade for Cobb comes a season after they traded for his former teammate, Dylan Bundy<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> While expectations for Cobb aren’t nearly as high as they might be for Bundy this upcoming year, only a select few saw Bundy’s potential<\/a> after leaving the AL East before the 2020 campaign.<\/p>\n

Rotation<\/h2>\n

While the Angels should be applauded for their efforts in bolstering their pitching depth, Cobb isn’t a top of the rotation starter. Yet, with Shohei Ohtani<\/strong><\/a> stating his intention to pitch in 2021, Cobb works well as a member of a six-man rotation. No, the Angels trade for Cobb doesn’t elicit the same excitement as a big-time free agent signing (looking at you, Trevor Bauer<\/strong><\/a>),<\/strong> but it does fill major league innings at a league average or better level. Even his 2020 numbers would be a major upgrade for a team that counted on Julio Teheran<\/strong><\/a> and his 10.05 ERA. Whatever Cobb brings to the table in 2021, the trade was a good one by Perry Minasian’s front office. His shrewd moves have helped the Angels improve in the short-term while maintaining excellent payroll flexibility. Hopefully, they can spend that money on a pitcher who will really move the needle.<\/p>\n

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\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>