It's been rumored for awhile so no big surprise, but the Giants finally got a deal done with Alex Cobb RHP. This feels like a deal in FZ's comfort zone. It's not a churn/dumpster dive/risk-free kind of deal that FZ is famous for. FZ gets a solid MLB performer who has a hint of upside at a price that won't blow up the payroll and doesn't become an albatross if it doesn't work out. The deal is 2 yr/$20 M with a $10 M team option for 2023. Cobb will reportedly receive $9 M the next 2 years with a $2 M buyout for the option year. If the option is picked up, it's a 3 yr/$38 M package.
Alex Cobb RHP. DOB: 10/7/2021. 6'3", 205 lbs.
8-3, 3.76, 93.1 IP, 9.45 K/9, 3.18 BB/9, 2.92 FIP.
The biggest rap on Alex Cobb is injury history. 2018 was the last season he pitched more than 100 innings. Last year's injuries were a blister problem and wrist soreness. When he was healthy, he pitched great. FZ has a history of signing pitchers with injury history to deals that turn out to be bargains. He clearly believes injury history suppresses market value too far and it's an undervalued commodity. If it doesn't work out with one, the money is small enough relatively speaking to not be a backbreaker and if you spread the risk over several pitchers, probabilities are enough will stay healthy to make it pay off.
Going into the offseaseon, FZ acknowledged biggest challenge was SP depth. Assuming the Alex Wood deal is still on track, he's taken that challenge off the table and still has plenty of payroll room to go after a middle-of-the-order bat and/or a frontline SP to take heat off Logan Webb. Here's hoping FZ has enough left in the tank to get both.
Are we assuming, at this point, that re-signing Bryant is a no-go?
ReplyDeleteHopefully either Hjelle or Beck are at a level to contribute. Can't wait for the arrival of Heliot, this season, as well as a full maturation of Bart. Should be fun. Provided Webb doesn't turn Van Landingham on us.
Boras will milk this cow until mid February.
DeleteNBC Sports Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic reports that "Alex Wood was taking his physical on Monday and that is usually one of the last steps in finalizing a deal."
ReplyDeleteThe Giants need to clear another 40-man roster spot and may be timing that with the lockout starting this afternoon.
With Wood and Cobb as 40% of the rotation, it’s safe to say the SF to Sacramento express lane will be busy - be sure to fund the FasTrack account. It will be interesting to see which young arms might get a look. Beede and Long likely figure in the mix, but I wonder which organization arms are on FZ’s menu that we might not be thinking about. If the Giants add a solid guy like Stroman, that would firm things up a bit. If, however, the #5 guy is another guy not known for his durability, the SF to Sac shuttle will be really, really busy
ReplyDeleteSolid pitching signings so far, which puts them in a much better position going into the lockout. Good job by FZ avoiding the splash signings. Gausman will be missed, but not sure if he will be a good long term investment, basically a fastball, splitter pitcher. We'll see. FZ will look into other ways to improve the team. One of the writers tweeted something interesting that front office doesn't look at it as filling out a rotation, but assembling a staff that will give them starts for 162 games. I'm expecting at least a couple more SP additions. Can we throw Sammie Long, Tyler Beede and Sean Hjellie into the SP mix?
ReplyDeleteAs things stand now, it is a virtual certainty that Long, Beede and Hjelle will all get the opportunity to start a game for the Giants in 2022. Long and Beede early and Hjelle probably after the AS break. The more interesting question is who else in the org that is not being discussed may get a start, or multiple starts, for the Giants.
DeleteI would include Will Bednar as a guy with an outside shot at pitching in the majors before the end of the season. Outside of that, I am just not seeing anyone currently in the organization. I expect we'll see some minor league deals signed during the lockout, at least I hope so.
DeleteI also think that we might see Kai-Wei Teng, this season. He is 23 and should begin the year at AA.
ReplyDelete