The Giants are in talks with free-agent righty Alex Cobb and appear to be making a “strong push” to sign the veteran righty, tweets Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link). Cobb is represented by the Beverly Hills Sports Council.
If a deal is indeed finalized, Cobb would fill one of four rotation vacancies for a San Francisco club that saw each of Kevin Gausman, Alex Wood, Anthony DeSclafani and Johnny Cueto reach free agency at season’s end.
The 34-year-old Cobb had something of a resurgence with the Angels last season after being acquired in an offseason deal that sent minor league infielder Jahmai Jones to Baltimore. Injuries still hampered Cobb — as has oft been the case in his career — with a wrist issue and blisters combining to limit him to 93 1/3 frames. However, when healthy, Cobb was the best he’s been in years, pitching to a 3.76 ERA with a 24.9% strikeout rate, an 8.4% walk rate and a huge 53.3% ground-ball rate.
In fact, in some regards, the 2021 season was Cobb’s best as a big leaguer. While the workload wasn’t as large as he or the Angels would’ve liked, Cobb posted career-best marks in strikeout percentage, swinging-strike rate (11.2%) and opponents’ chase rate (34.6%).
That 2021 output marked a stark turnaround for Cobb, who pitched just 217 total innings during three years with the Orioles after signing a four-year, $57MM contract in advance of the 2018 campaign — the final major acquisition from Baltimore before the eventual housecleaning and rebuild process got underway that summer. Given that Cobb’s last run through free agency lingered until Spring Training was well underway, it makes sense that he’d push for an earlier deal a second time around. Both Cobb and the Angels had publicly expressed interest in a reunion, but that looks decidedly unlikely now.
As alluded to above, Cobb would be just one of many pieces needed to complete a wide-open starting pitching puzzle at Oracle Park. In addition to the quartet of open spots behind homegrown star Logan Webb, Cobb has reached 100 innings in just two of the past seven seasons. While any team signing Cobb would surely hope for better health, it’s not something that can be banked upon given a laundry list of physical ailments that have piled up in recent years.
From a payroll vantage point, the Giants ought to have little issue adding Cobb into the fold. Roster Resource’s Jason Martinez projects a $97MM payroll at present, and Cobb should command a good bit less than the $14.25MM annual salary he received on that last contract with the Orioles. MLBTR ranked Cobb 39th on our Top 50 Free Agent list, pegging for a two-year, $16MM contract.
Hard PASS.
Cobb is not a #1 or #2 but could turn out to be another Wood or DeSclafani.
yeah the profile is very woody
Cobb is not as horrible as everyone thinks.
Orioles fans say hi.
Which two?
Nice…
Angels fans say hello
He was very dependable in Anaheim. I think the Angels should re-sign him.
Hidden gem, or is Zaidi already dumpster diving?
By this point, Zaidi has earned some benefit of the doubt.
Definitely has, I agree.
there has to be some dumpster diving, you aren’t going to see 4 30mm+ guys signed to the rotation. there needs to be some depth and role players and the way the giants succeeded last year was to make those role players solid contributors
.
Giants like dumpster diving.
Smarrdjzzaa and cuteo are available again.
@mister guy True, that, and something most casual fans are clueless about.
Mets fans want to spend 6/160m for a half win upgrade at 3B, and to lose fractional wins at 2B. Giants fans want Kershaw out of the #6 slot, I guess.
It’s… discouraging.
Dumpster diving is how one searches for hidden gems…Gausman was on no one’s wishlist when the Giants first acquired him.
Gausman has always been seen as a high ceiling pitcher. His drawback has always been the injuries. Without factoring in age he would be a good comp for Cobb. Cobb was solid in Tampa and seemed to be a future TOR pitcher but he became one of those pitchers that just couldn’t adjust well after TJ surgery. However it looked like he turned a corner last year. If the Giants are confident they can continue to keep oft-injured but talented pitchers on the mound they should make a run at Bundy, Kluber or Syndergaard as well Cobb. Maybe check in with the Yankees on Severino. They could easily put together a top 5 rotation without laying out a single $100m contract. Whatever they did worked with Gausman and all of those pitchers will easily outperform the contracts they will currently command if they can stay healthy.
@thecoffinnail Well said. Fwiw, the Giants don’t need to keep them on the mound, particularly—not in the conventional sense, anyway. 20 starts with a 3.75 ERA the first year of a 2/16m deal is a good value.
If they avoid the mythical trap of “building a rotation” and focus instead on getting starts, they won’t fall into the next trap of pushing guys out their every five days as if that actually means something.
—It’s unlikely the Giants will go after someone as hit and miss as Kluber. They’ll risk a guy who might give them 12 or 15 or 18 starts, but seem less inclined to go after a guy who can give them 1 start or 25.
DuMpStEr DiViNg
I wouldn’t say dumpster diving, just addressing depth. Even if they land one of the top SPs they’re still going to need to fill out the back of the rotation. Safe to say they’re not expecting him to fill a 1-2 role
Lorenzen (Cincinnati) could be another pitching option. Both starting and long relief.
and Lorenzen can play OF too.
Can’t forget that
He fits in with SF if he is willing to take a 1 year deal. Angels defense cost him about run a game. Giants should be an improvement over that.
No defense is that bad
That is what Fielding independent pitching measures.
Cobb 2021 ERA 3.76
FIP 2.92
Different is 0.84. That is what the Angel’s defense cost Cobb.
That is not what Fielding Independent Pitching measures, not at all. What it measures is how a pitcher does when the ball isn’t put into play. In other words, it measures how good he is at getting strikeouts compared to walks or home runs.
Since the game is still played with fielders, it’s not a very important number. A sinkerballer who specializes in double plays, for example, will have a terrible FIP. Anybody who induces weak contact instead of wasting pitches on strikeouts is penalized in their FIP.
The Angels defense the first two months was horrible. Worst I’ve seen…and I’m a lifelong Angels fan.
Iglesias couldn’t catch to save his life, Pujols was at first, Walsh was playing out of position in right…just a cluster.
geg42 good observation. And won’t require a loss of a draft pick.
I’m extremely curious to see what he gets paid this off-season. I wouldn’t offer him more than $5 million. Definitely a nice talent but he just does not give you the innings you need for a full-time starter.
My prediction is one year at 8.5 million.
2/17m.
Just with the pitching market the way it is, I feel almost everyone is going to get over 5 million AAV
Every agent will be comparing their talent to Heaney! $8MM is the minimum now.
I think he’s got a case for a 2-year deal between $15-16M.
Orange 2001 – That would be a massive overpay. $5-6M on a one year at best (I hope).
1 WAR is worth about $7M. Cobb has averaged 1 WAR per year since he signed the Orioles contract, and last year was 1.7. If it weren’t for age and health he’d get a lot more than 2/16, but given those factors I think it’d be a reasonable contract.
The goal is to acquire that WAR below value. You don’t want to pay full price for your scrubs.
Cobb’s not a scrub.
JackStrawb – I dunno. Cobb’s stats scream . And especially troubling is that he hasn’t thrown a hundred innings since 2018. Maybe as depth?
Cobb was one of the guys I actually hoped the Giants would look at. Hopefully he’s a guy who can stay healthy and thrive at Oracle. Shouldn’t be too expensive, either, and would help to start fleshing out a rotation that right now solely consists of Logan Webb.
He’s coming from an equally pitcher friendly stadium.
yea he had to work with the Angels defense which was one of the worst in the league last year.
Nobody had to endure as bad a total team defense for a career as Chris Volstad. Marlins 2009-2011, Cubs 2012, White Sox 2018. Cost him at least a run on his career ERA.
seamaholic 2:
Uh, no. Why would you write something like that, since you obviously didn’t check to see if that was true?
According to Baseball Savant, in 2021 Angels Stadium was the 9th best hitters park. Oracle ranked 20th. They typically use a 3 year rolling average, but I looked at only 2021 because of the hitter friendly changes made to Oracle after the 2019 season. But, in the 3-year rolling average, Angels Stadium was 8th, while Oracle was 28th.
@tad2b13 “Why would you write something like that, since you obviously didn’t check to see if that was true?”
—New to the internet?
More corn on the cob than Ty Cobb.
Dodgers paid 8.5 million for Heaney, Cobb is probably looking for at least a similar payday.
Andrew might have better stuff but Alex was the better pitcher in 2021.
What is this run with former Angels pitchers anyway?
Zaidy gets the most out of guys like this.
Aaron Sanchez says wassup.
He said “most” guys, not every guy.
That’s not what he said. Reading comprehension isn’t for everyone.
tads,
No, he didn’t say most guys. Please reread, process, and then vehemently apologize.
Okay, I’ll admit to misstating the precise meaning. Still, what he said was most guys like this, not every guy like this.
While I apologize for gumming up the response, vehemence is not necessary, since the original response, referring to Aaron Sanchez, lacked understanding of the intent of the post, which I was defending, and still do..
We’re good.
So you’re completely oblivious to implication in language?
–I’m going to the store.
You: –No you’re not. You’re just standing there.
Zaidi seems pretty good at picking these reclamation projects and getting his money’s worth! So until I see different I won’t scrutinize this much if it happens.
a Sanford and Son purchase
His LAA was a last burst he is 34…maybe they get 1 year out of him or he does well enough to bring back prospects on a trade
Thumbs up just for the Sanford and Sons
Giants doubling down on the smartest-guys-in-the-room strategy, bringing in risky players on short term deals and hoping they all come up sevens. Gotta give them the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise, but the sports world is littered with execs who thought they had everything figured out and had a magic touch, only to discover they just got extremely lucky that one year (in a 30 team league, someone is bound to every few years).
Come to think of it, that applies to more than sports execs. People have a hard time accepting and accounting for luck, both good and bad.
I think you’re overestimating the role Cobb would have. It’s not like they’re going to build the rotation around him.
@ seamaholic 2;
Well, the Astros got lucky with Verlander and Morton 4 years ago, then got lucky with Cole 3 years ago. This year they got lucky with 3 young pitchers.
Luck of the Irish.
Or there coaches improve pitchers.
Z adding another “serviceable” starter. Not a front line arm for sure, but Z seems to get more than expected from his rag-tag group of hurlers. Wont surprise me if he pitches great, or epically tanks.
There’s a reason everyone called him “Cy Cobb” last season.
I was hoping the Angels would sign Cobb as a depth piece for one year at $8 million.
Agree! 2/15 would be even better.
When it gets to the playoffs you need some horses that can run the race. This guy isn’t one of them. Don’t expect the same results 2 years in a row. There has to be some balance. The Dodgers have it but come playoff time they like to let every player pick a position. That also doesn’t work. 33 years and counting
They have FOUR open rotation spots, I think they should be allowed to at least sign one pitcher that’s not a “horse that can run the race.”
I agree. They need two more pitchers that would be able to start in the post-season and two guys who can eat some innings with a sub 4.25 era. Cobb is not a sure thing to be healthy or to have a sub 4.25 era, but the latter is a possibility and if he is getting a one year deal for 9 million or less I won’t second guess it as he slots as a 4 or 5 starter.
By ST, the Giants will have 7 guys who can start with ERAs under 4.25.
They don’t think like fans do.
At this point all the GMs are bottom feeding. No surprise since they don’t know when the new agreement will be reached.
Wait – you’re saying that he performed best in his walk year?? Stunning development!
I’d pay money as a fan, to be able to listen in on Farhan Zaidi’s conversations and strategy sessions with his staff. I would find them absolutely fascinating.
I figure I might understand about a fifth of what they were saying, but it would be interesting.
Same here
Not quite the same, but the recent 60min “chalk talk” chat between Fleming, Kapler and Zaidi is a great watch. YouTube.
The most interesting thing Zaidi has said this year:
“I won’t comment on anyone specifically, but I will say — we’ve talked about this a lot over the last few years — we’re not shopping for a five-man rotation. We’re shopping for 162 games started. That can take on different forms. But I imagine that even after this (DeSclafani) signing, we’ll continue to be active in that space.”
Bad signing
I’m of two minds regarding Cobb and the cost of pitching so far this offseason.
In a market where Heaney gets $8.5M, I can imagine Cobb getting a decent multi-year deal. That’s a steep price for someone who seemed washed up and didn’t provide much value for most of a four-year contract.
On the other hand, if Cobb has figured something out, a multi-year deal might work out. If he signs a one-year deal and puts up another 2021 performance, he could really cash in next year. A multi-year deal could be a bargain (with plenty of risk, of course).
Ultimately, I trust this front office to evaluate talent and allocate resources prudently. Just hope this wouldn’t be the “big splash” acquisition for the rotation
For everyone saying hard pass, you were saying the same damn thing about Gausman 2 years ago and Wood+Tony Disco a year ago. Let San Fran see what he can do.
Cobb’s splitter is solid. It will get plenty of ground balls. Early in the year the Angels just couldn’t convert them to outs.
Getting him out of the AL East cut his HR/9 more than half. If that is sustainable, he’s a nice back end piece.
So your saying he’s a better pitcher if not in a hitters park. Who isnt? Maybe he should have thrown more ground balls like he did this past year. Doesn’t matter the size of the park, that ground ball isn’t going out.
I thought Cobb did a better job then I thought he would.He can deal,no doubt about.But how many starts are you going to get out of him.I enjoyed watching him pitch & we didn’t have a lot to get excited about on the bump last yr.