Hip issues have kept Alex Cobb on the injured list all season, and the veteran righty officially announced the end of his lost year by telling reporters (including the Detroit Free Press’ Evan Petzold and The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen) that he’ll be undergoing resurfacing surgery on his right hip. This is the third hip-related surgery Cobb has undergone since the start of the 2019 season.
Cobb went into detail with the media about his injury-marred 2025 campaign, and all of the stops and starts faced during multiple rehab assignments. Cobb turns 38 in October, and he admitted that he was at least considering retirement in the wake of his injury woes. We should know more about Cobb’s decision in the coming weeks, as he’ll likely want to see how his body responds in the wake of the surgery, not to mention the natural discussions with his family about whether or not to step away from the sport.
If this is indeed it for Cobb, his 2025 campaign is an unfortunate coda on the end of an impressive 13-season run in the majors. His tenure with the Tigers will conclude without even a single pitch thrown, making Detroit’s $15MM free agent investment in Cobb into a total wash. There was some hope that Cobb could make it back as a relief pitcher before the season was over, but he was pulled off his rehab assignment at the end of August.
Cobb’s previous hip surgery during the 2023-24 offseason (when he was still a member of the Giants) ended up sidelining him for longer than expected, as Cobb then developed elbow soreness during his rehab process. Traded from San Francisco to Cleveland at the deadline, Cobb tossed a total of 22 innings for the Guardians, with three starts in the regular season and two more in the playoffs.
Despite the lack of workload, the Tigers felt confident enough in Cobb’s medicals and track record to give him a one-year, $15MM deal last winter. While Detroit is sailing towards the AL Central crown and hasn’t necessarily missed Cobb, it is easy with 50-50 hindsight to speculate on the many ways the Tigers could’ve otherwise used that $15MM to upgrade the roster, particularly since the club didn’t spend much in general last offseason.
Injuries have been an unwelcome subplot of Cobb’s career, with the recurring hip problems and a 2015 Tommy John surgery standing out as the major health setbacks. Though it all, Cobb has usually been an effective starter when he has been able to pitch, posting a 3.84 ERA over 1327 2/3 innings with five different big league clubs. His most effective season in terms of fWAR (3.7) came in 2022 during his age-34 season, and he received his first All-Star nod in 2023.
Ridiculous signing
What were the terms?
1 year, $15M
Not a franchise killer or anything, but in hindsight, an obvious waste of money.
Franchise killer, qu’est que c’est. Fa fa fa fa, fa fa fa fa fa fa.
Terms of endearment
Not disagreeing with you but kudos to Cobb’s agent for getting him a $15M contracts despite having only pitched 16 IP in 2024.
When he’s healthy, he’s great. But Detroit should have signed him to a lower base salary with innings bonuses.
Kudos to Cobb too for the sucking
Maybe Detroit needs a better medical team.
More proof that everybody can predict the future after it happens.
@bluesky – One would think, however we are loaded with folks in this country that can’t comprehend the past or present as well. They all look great in their red hats however.
Red hats and rainbow flags. Interesting times we live in these days.
Bummer for Cobb and the tigers though.
ADF-
How is it a bummer for Cobb? 15M for not pitching. He was injured when he signed the deal. He got his medical expenses paid and made a cool 15 million for his trouble.
How about ending your career and living the rest of his life with chronic hip pain. Pretty important joint when it comes to everyday living. Some people value that sort of thing over their bank account.
Good times create weak people. Weak people create hard times. Hard times create strong people. Strong people create good times. It’s how societies roll. No surprises for guessing where you are at.
foppert3
How about ending your career and living the rest of his life with chronic hip pain.
=======================
He had already made $100M. If chronic hip pain was an issue, he could’ve retired.
It’s a bummer because while he made $15m, money isn’t everything. He’s going to miss out on playoff baseball, which is meaningful for most players.
He also likely would want to finish his career on his own terms, not due to a medical issue.
And he also probably feels bad about not being able to fulfill his side of the contract. But it’s baseball, so it is what it is.
Yes he could have, but he obviously loves it. Chasing the dream. Who knows how he feels about his decisions now. I do know that having metal surfaces screwed into your hip at 38 sounds like a pretty big life negative. I’ve got it as a bummer.
@joe.
I’ve got to get that into my MLBTR game. Forget every time !
Tigers probably hedged with insurance on the contract to be quite honest. He was hurt coming into the signing IIRC. Unfortunate he was not able to contribute. Tigers seem to be humming along just fine without him and it’s a ridiculous notion to think this money would’ve gone to a Bregman offer or something. The team still had money to spend with what they’ve acquired during the season.
Yeah, because insurance companies always want loser deals.
This contract was uninsurable.
The Titanic was insured.
GEICO?
The Titanic didn’t have a long injury history.
Just the one was career ending.
They sure could use another reliable starter at the moment. Detroit’s old friend Boyd signed for about the same money. Due to Cobb’s prior injury, and relative small contract, I doubt they got insurance on it. That’s usually done on long term, high dollar contracts. Its also hard to find an insurer for the chronic nature of Cobb’s injury.
Sports insurance policies are limited. No insurance company will insure a player for a current injury or for prior injury. In other words, Cobb’s hip injury is uninsurable.
Harris’s most foolish move ever. There was no logic to this deal, ever. The guy was ready to retire for reasons that are completely obvious. This type of deal comes back to haunt in the postseason when they really need a seasoned veteran worth $15 million a year on the mound and instead have to turn to someone like Chris Paddack.
How much are they paying Paddack?
Yeah, didn’t they trade for Paddack?
He’s shucked.
That was a corny comment…
While amaized you both could Ty in puns, the Tigers aren’t amused given how badly they got creamed.
Hopefully he has a family lineage: children of the corn
These are not the Salad days of Cobbs existence
This will surely drive a wedge between him and the team.
Please. Lettuce just appreciate his attempt.
I expect Harris will offer Cobb an incentive laden contract worth up to $20M for the 2026 season since he saw what he did with the Giants several years ago and he’s smarter than every other POBO/GM in baseball (at least in his own mind)
It’s decisions like this that make me lose respect in FO execs like Harris, as what significant deal(s) has he really done since he’s been here other than sign/trade/resign Jack Flaherty & sign Gleyber Torres to his 1-yr contract?
And put together a roster that is one of the best teams in MLB.
And think what could have been done with the extra totally wasted $15M. Should have known better with this ridiculous gamble of a signing.
Dare I say that y’all are beginning to sound like spoiled Yankees fans? Be glad that the F.O. is spending money and put together a competitive team. They’re one-year contracts so not a big deal. Enjoy the run this season! I am.
Could have had:
Montas
Corbin Burnes?
Sean Manaea?
Jack Flaherty? Oh wait.
Walker Buehler!!!
Ha ha. Good context.
MCBB….Yes with the majority of Avilia’s players responsible for this. With Harris at the helm, while the team may be competitive for now, I don’t except any huge success
He did sign Flaherty and Gleyber short term and made a huge play for Bregman long term. He has drafted really well and many of those players will be up starting next year, hence the short term deals. He is developing players so they have a sustainable pipeline of talent. Adding to the Avila era players. I like what he is doing. Every GM has clunkers, including D.D.
If you look at roster construction, the vast majority was put together by Al Avila. Harris gets credit for McKinstry, Flaherty, some bullpen arms and some of the Bench. Early signs are he did a good job at this deadline. ALL of the regulars are Al Avila’s signings.
Al didn’t draft that badly though. Have to give him that. Greene, Meadows, Perez, Carp, Keith, Tork, Dingler, Skubal, Mize, Vest. Al drafted them but they developed under the current regime with Hinch and Harris. Most of the bullpen is Harris guys and next year i think we will start to see some of the guys extracted starting to get worked in. I agree he had more to work with than some teams because Al was decent at drafting.
The Tigers are winning because AJ Hinch is a great manager.
I think most of you Tiger fans forget how bad your team was just a few short years ago. You are now one of the best teams in baseball. Not saying Harris should get full credit, but the front office has put a winner on the field a few years after finishing 30ish games under .500. That’s pretty good progress. Avila’s hiring of Hinch was a pretty good hire. He’s a really good manager who deserves credit too. Especially after the Houston issues. Enjoy yourselves right now. 15 million for Cobb backfired but you’ll be just fine and have a good chance at going to the World Series.
Harris rebuilt the farm system and the player development program. Ilich spent heavily in both regards. Both areas were badly neglected under Avila and Dombrowski.
Takes a lot more than a starting lineup to support a championship team…
That’s really inaccurate. Avila was left with a barren system after DD. Under Avila, that system has supplied the team with Torkelson, Keith, Greene, Meadows, Carpenter, Perez, Dingler, Skubal, Mize, Olson, K. Montero, Gibson-Long, Vest, Hurter, Foley, and Lange. He also revamped the system right before he was dismissed after an injury marred season. Hinch and Fetters are the most recognizable names he added to the coaches.
Having Hinch and Fetter was a key for Harris. They have molded and maximized the usage of the players that were there.
Tom Monoham bought the Tigers with a great farm but, severely neglected it during his ownership. Mike Illich didn’t place much emphasis on it until Dave Dombrowski came along. DD rebuilt the farm. Al Avila gave even more to the farm system. The farm was not barren when Scott Harris arrived. Harris has restructured the system with much more fanfare than previous regimes.
Don’t accuse DD of neglecting the farm. Mike Illich wanted a World Series ring at any cost.
Drafted Max Clark, Kevin McGonigle, and Max Anderson in one draft.
And hopefully one of those guys will be significant contributors. My money is on McGonigle… his recent draft (2025) will end up with a huge Bupkus
How do you know a bunch of 18-21 year olds won’t work out 2 months after the draft? He got huge value like Dumesnil late in the draft.
Offering Cobb another contract would get someone fired. Chris Illich is likely fed up paying heavy for worthless players.
Did he even pitch this year?
He threw 20 and 2/3 innings in the minors. None in the majors.
He was very lucky to play most of his time with really good teams with excellent catchers. Check his lousy numbers with the terrible Orioles. A few good pitchers are very unlucky and get stuck with terrible teams for most of their careers and suffer for it.
You want to make 15 million the hard way? What a joke. Might as well be monopoly money.
Is this Al Czervik?
Turned out to be a bad gamble. You can’t win them all.
A “wash” means the contract was neither a gain nor a loss for the Tigers. In fact, the contract was a total loss for the Tigers.
Washed $15 million!!!
WHAT A HOOT ! Oh well, I guess the playoff secret weapon can’t be used now. I was thinking he’d come in for the playoffs with no data on him, and be the surprise to help Detroit. What a hoot. Urquidy will have to be the playoff rescue wagon now.
They’ll have to avoid any pitcher blowing up in a inning for 4-6 runs during the playoffs. I’m hoping they can get the first week bye, but that looks kind of tough for them right now. Hang on snoopy hang on ! GO TIGERS !
Cobb busted himself trying to come back early from the hip when he was a Giant. Team guy all the way. Giants were desperate. Team over self and it looks like it cost him. Respect and love to the man. Good luck with the “resurfacing”. Sounds like something I’d like to avoid.
I was just looking at the 2 guys the Giants got from Cleveland for Cobb last year. Jacob Breshnahan and Nate Furman. These guys are having really good years in the minors. Breshnahan is 9-3 with a 2.61 ERA in 22 starts with San Jose and Furman is batting .375 across 4 levels and is currently at Richmond. Thank you very much Mr. Zaidi.
*Mr. Chernoff
Do wonder if tigers got insurance on him
What (for profit) insurance company would insure that player?
Here’s the rate. 50% of contract.
$7.5 million up front
I’m pretty sure all their contracts are insured. The question is would they be able to collect on the Cobb contract since he did pitch in the minors this year.
I don’t think they are. An ex president told me they are unaffordable and get messy at claim time. Not feasible. If anything, they self insure, but no idea how that works.
*Career ending.
Even though the signing was bad, I feel even worse for Cobb. Nobody intentionally signs a contract not to play, he really wanted to be part of this team
100%. From what I understand, Cobb is a very well respected man inside the sanctums. His attitude as a Giant was noteworthy. The team first approach at that time was a noticeable contrast to an injured Snell. Snell took the opposite approach with his recovery. In saying that, Snell’s “me first” got him the payday he wanted. Just came too late for the Giants that year.
Rendon is on line 1
Rendon just prefers to play half of season since 162 is too many games for him
Would expect him to play one more year on a vet min for the Tigers. He can’t feel good about ending his career like this
Mike Pelfrey. Jordan Zimmermann. Jose Urena. Et al. Many, many et al…
50-50 hindsight?
Hey Scott – lesson learned right?
Don’t sign anyone for any amount who
A) is constantly injured
And
B) is considering retirement
If we were a big market club it might not have mattered, but Mike doesn’t like to spend. That money could have gone to Bregman or a different FA.
Bregman still wouldn’t have signed. I hope they DON’T try again when he opts out in the offseason.
Two words. Bo. Bichette.
Or maybe Keith stays at 3B and they resign Torres for 2B or let Lee, Jung or Anderson take over? I’d prefer Bo signed for SS and let Baez and McKinistry be supersub if/of. McGonigle could be up as soon as next year but more likely 2027.
Personally I don’t think Harris will go after either Bregman, Torres or Bichette and will just cover things internally. It would be nice to get a big bat though to supplement, even Schwarber to cover DH and let Carp play OF.
If Harris adds, Bichette and Schwarber would be nice adds. Screw Bregman!
What’s wrong with them trying to sign him again if he opts out this off season look how good he’s been doing with Boston we would definitely be at 90 wins by now if he would have signed with us he will still barely be 30 when trying to sign him I would still be comfortable with giving him a four-year contract maybe a fifth year club option but besides that the tigers need to do everything they can to you finally get one of these Japanese international signings got two good guys that are going to be posted really need to try to get one of them. Oh and of course pitching if it’s really looking like skubal ain’t going to sign a extension in the off season definitely have to consider trading him for what you can get which is hopefully good MLB ready pitching prospects and almost ready pitching prospects and maybe a 50 rated right handed bat because we literally have like none that are looking any good at all besides some relief pitchers lol
Let’s not forget that 1st ballot Hall of Famer, beloved Tiger Justin Verlander was available when they signed Cobb and he eventually signed for the exact same $15 million.
Attendance is high this year but you know that Comerica Park would sell more tickets on days when JV was on the bump. So that means the cost of the contract would become less. And all of us fans would be thrilled to have JV back in the D for another run at the World Series.
Verlander may well be the last pitcher to ever reach 300 wins and I want that to happen with an old English D on his cap!
By all reports, you could have had him at the deadline.
What a waste!
Pretty sure Harris isn’t happy with the guys in his organization who referred this pitcher to him. 15 million with zero production is appalling.
It’s not his money, it’s Ilitch’s money, so no one to blame here, honestly.
Contracts are mutually-agreed upon in the United States.
Hey Detroit, nice signing!! I remember my first time being a GM hahahaha
I haven’t been counting on Cobb, so no big loss.
I am very concerned about Kahnle, though. He’s got nothing left. Sewald and Q-diddy can’t arrive soon enough.