The Giants have yet to make a move on the free agent market. That could end very soon.
Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that Farhan Zaidi and Co. are making a strong push to sign right-handed starting pitcher Alex Cobb, most recently of the Los Angeles Angels. According to Slusser, the two parties are a good “match.”
Cobb, 34, is a 10-year veteran who made 18 starts for the Angels last season, his only season in LA after spending the previous three in Baltimore. Cobb was solid, his 3.76 ERA and 1.26 WHIP the best figures he’s posted since the 2017 season.
Cobb was originally a fourth-round pick by the Rays in 2006 and spent six seasons as a member of Tampa Bay’s rotation before signing with the Orioles. Cobb’s career numbers — 3.87 ERA, 1.26 WHIP — are fairly reflective of last year’s performance. The one number that stands out is the 9.5 strikeout-per-nine innings he posted in 2021, quite the bump from his 7.3 career average.
The Giants currently have one pitcher — ace Logan Webb — locked into the rotation for next season. Kevin Gausman, Alex Wood and Anthony DeSclafani are all free agents and should be in play to be re-signed by the Giants depending on their market. Cobb’s signing would make bringing back all three less likely.
Cobb throws four pitches; a fastball and sinker that reach 93, a knuckle curve and a splitter that he frequently throws with two strikes.
Cobb made $15 million last season in the final year of what was a four-year, $57 million deal originally shelled out by Baltimore.
