Orioles starting pitchers Alex Cobb and Andrew Cashner have both reportedly cleared revocable trade waivers, per Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports. They’re now eligible to be traded to any team for the remainder of the season.
It should be noted that a trade of either pitcher doesn’t seem particularly likely. Cashner, for his part, owns a 4.84 ERA on the season, and his 4.95 FIP suggests that bad luck has taken no part in that performance. He’s owed another $8MM beyond this season, and at the age of 31 it seems more likely than not that his performance could continue to decline. In addition to his rough surface numbers, Cashner’s skill set leaves plenty to be desired. He’s only managed to strike out 6.25 batters per nine innings while walking almost four. Meanwhile, his 42.4% ground ball rate this season would be a career-low by far.
On the other hand, Cashner’s only a year removed from a performance that made him a league-average pitcher by fWAR. In 28 starts, the right-hander managed to post a 3.40 ERA. While peripheral statistics considered that output to be incredibly lucky (on the extreme end, xFIP estimated him to have performed at the quality of a 5.30 ERA hurler), it convinced the Orioles to hand him a two-year pact, and that small glimmer of promise could convince a pitching-desperate contender to bring him into the fold. The $10MM or so left on his contract isn’t cheap, but it’s not a franchise-altering sum, either.
Cobb has seemingly turned his season around after an abominable first-half showing. The right-hander has now posted six consecutive quality starts dating back to July 26th, and owns an elite 2.16 ERA since the All-Star Break. Owing in part to a resurgence in the effectiveness of his wicked change-up, Cobb has been a nightmare for opposing hitters of late, and the $46MM owed to him beyond 2018 is certainly a significant deterrent to any potential trade partner, Cobb would seemingly be an upgrade to the rotations of many contending ballclubs. For their part, the Orioles would almost certainly be happy to unload most of Cobb’s remaining contract as they enter what looks to be a lengthy rebuilding process.
The Brewers have practically painted themselves into a corner when it comes to acquiring a SP. All their other moves are moot unless they trade for a starter they’ve needed since the offseason. Not saying Cobb is the best option, but he’s hot right now, and the options at this point are extremely limited.
I just don’t know if they want to take on that kind of salary for him. I agree he is a better option than the others because he has much more upside.
Maybe if the brewers include a prospect or two the o’s will throw in some cash.
That’s what I was thinking…honestly as a cards fan that would be kinda scary to see the brewers get Cobb…if they want to contend I think they have too?
Brewers don’t need a SP, they need more INF.
Lol
turn the page
Brewers need both
I agree 1000%, but who knows what the Brewers will do? It’s so obvious they need SP yet they’ve done nothing but add odd fitting infielders. I don’t think Cobb’s contract will scare them off — they’ve shown a willingness to spend. They should go get Cobb today
Brewers should be trading for Gio Gonzalez but they hate giving anything up so they won’t.
Though they gave up some value to acquire Jonathan Schoop….who is so bad he can’t get into the lineup….while gift-wrapping Daniel Murphy to the Cubs by failing to claim him. David Stearns has had a miserable 2018 in-season performance.
They picked so many middle IF’s that by the time Murphy was put on waivers they had no roster spot available! Bad roster management.
Cobb’s resurgence has had as much to do with fastball location and a vicious splitter as it has with his change-up.
The splitter is the changeup.
Not sure I’m seeing it that way. Splitter seems to have more late movement/drop.
♂️
I don’t see many teams hankering for Cashner (who has still, despite the numbers, looked solid for times this year, just needs more consistency). Cobb on the other hand looks wickedly good and would make a nice addition to a contending club. That said, I think the O’s should hold him unless they get something good in return. Even on a rebuilding O’s team he could bring a lot of needed stability to a young rotation.
That and if he holds form he’d bring a lot more at the deadline next year with 2+ years of control and being further from his horrid first half this year.
I think Cobb has a no trade clause for the first year of the contract. I think it expires in November.
Why wouldn’t he want to be traded to a contender?
Maybe he has personal reasons? Family? Likes Organization? Likes the harbor?
Despite their record the O’s have been a team players have loved playing for.
That’s understandable but really he had only been there for this year and I would think that if a contender wanted him he would go…most athletes want to win…but you are right that maybe he has personal reasons
I’m confident Cobb would waive that. He didn’t sign in Baltimore because he loved the city. We gave him the most cash by a pretty large margin. As good as Cobb has looked teams aren’t going to be looking to commit 40 mil to the guy. If he’s pitching this way next season, it’ll be a different story.
Can the Cubs pull off another miracle waiver-wire deal? Put Cobb in the rotation with Hamels, Lester, and Hendricks and the Cubs are set for the playoff run.
That’s probably the most expensive starting rotation I’ve seen if you add in Darvish and Chatwood
I think everyone had the cubs signing Cobb in the offseason, reunite him with jim hickey.
You realize the Cubs print money, right?
At the right contract price, Cobb and Cashner can eat innings on a club going no where. They probably aren’t good enough to play for a championship club, unless once the Orioles aura is removed , they bounce back.
They are not as bad as they look.
Neither one o them are “done”. They have some good innings left in them both.
I’ve never understood why teams don’t just stick Cashner in the bullpen and just tell him to air it out. He still throws really hard, when he want to, but he obviously has to pace himself as a starter. He could be a Chad Green-style multi-inning lights out reliever, I really believe.
There’s no way Cobb is unloaded for most of the money owed. A good team isn’t going to take that gamble, with several significantly better free agents on the horizon (most notably Sale, in 14 months. but some really good pitchers in just two months, as well).
What the Orioles could do, if they were brave enough, is eat salary for prospects. Then contenders with a rich farm system (like the Yankees, and a couple of NL teams) would be interested. But I don’t think they’re brave enough.
Cobb is promised $43m for the next three years and like $2m for the rest if this year. So you’re saying no team would take on $23m of a contract for three years plus a stretch run of a guy pitching like an ace because they could instead have the chance to compete with dozens of other teams to sign Patrick Corbin to a $100m deal in a few months (passing up help for the current stretch run) and also have the chance to compete with dozens of teams to sign Chris Sale to a $300m contract over a year from now?
Brewers could use him at SS
get a life kid
Brewers could use you as their little bat boy
1988.. plz don’t tell me you’re 30 yrs old feeding the troll
300.. more like own the troll
Do Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers make a deal for Cobb? Formerly one of Andrew’s guys in TB.
Cobb an absolute bargain! Cashier got no run support.
Cashner’s 4.84 ERA and 1.50 simply says he stinks. Nothing to do with run support
Although I believe me and JKB are foes…he is right…cashner should have retired a long time ago…he has broken more hands than any pitcher I know….he is garbage
Cash looked good tonight and has recently. He’s had some very bad starts which don’t help his numbers. He’s no ace, but he is an okay starter. The defense didn’t make plays for him tonight
They both cleared waivers meaning no one want them at their current salaries. IF Baltimore is willing to pick up some or most of their salaries there might be a market. Otherwise, the O’s have Cobb for quite sometime.