*Photo from Halos Heaven*
Seeking a replacement for Kevin Gausman in the rotation, the San Francisco Giants went veteran chasing. The Giants and RHP Alex Cobb have agreed to a two year, $20 million deal, with a $10 million option for 2024 with a $2 million buyout, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The Giants have confirmed the deal.
After losing Johnny Cueto and Gausman to free agency, the Giants have been rebuilding their rotation, agreeing to re-sign Alex Wood, as well as Anthony DeSclafani, to try and get 5 starters into the rotation heading into 2022. The signing of Cobb now gives the Giants a top 4 in the rotation. The Giants had been heavily interested in Cobb, and now they've got their man.
Playing for the Los Angeles Angels last season, Cobb had an effective season when he wasn't injured, finishing the season with a 8-3 record with a 3.76 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, striking out 98 hitters over 93 1/3 innings pitched, making 18 starts for the Angels in his first season with the club, being one of the few bright spots in their pitching group.
With the Angels last season, Cobb posted a career best 25 percent strikeout rate, blowing past his previous career high of 23.1 percent, set with the Rays in the 2013 season. Among qualified pitchers, he finished in the 94th percentile in barrel rate, so he did a good job at not giving up a ton of hard contact, with that number being at 4.2 percent of all batted balls against Cobb.
In 10 seasons pitching in the big leagues, Cobb has a lifetime 63-60 record, with a 3.87 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, throwing 1,010 1/3 innings in 174 starts, split between the Angels, Tampa Bay Rays, and Baltimore Orioles. Cobb has started two playoff games, in the 2013 postseason, finishing with a 1-0 record and allowing two earned runs in 11 2/3 innings pitched.
The biggest issue so far in Cobb's career has been the "when healthy" asterisk. A right wrist injury was what limited him to 18 starts last season for the Angels. Cobb also missed the entire 2015 season, and most of the 2016 season, while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and was also dealing with plenty of injuries during his time in Baltimore.
Cobb, Wood, DeSclafani, and Logan Webb give the Giants the top 4 rotation starters, with prospect Tyler Beede likely to challenge for a rotation spot come spring training, as well as any other signings made by the Giants after the lockout expires.
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