The Orioles Fill Out Their Rotation, Sign Alex Cobb To A 4 Year Deal Worth $60 Million
This is a move that I LOVE. Baltimore finally makes a legit splash with their rotation and signs former Ray, Alex Cobb. This is the sexy signing the Birds needed. They were rumored to be in on Lance Lynn and Cobb, so when Lynn signed with the Twins on a 1 year – $10 million deal, it came down to Cobb. The Orioles said they wouldn’t go 4 years on a pitcher after the Ubaldo debacle, but decided to throw that out the window. Cobb gets a 4 year deal rumored to be around $60 million. The O’s also give up draft pick # 51 this coming year. Cobb is a bonafide top of the rotation guy, and will makes the O’s rotation that much better.
He missed all of 2015 and most of 2016 after having Tommy John, but put up decent numbers last year in his first full year back. 12-10 with a 3.66 ERA in 29 starts. Cobb posted a WHIP of 1.221, had 128 Ks and 44 walks in 179.1 IP, easily Tampa’s best pitcher. So basically the Orioles traded Wade Miley and Ubaldo Jimenez for Andrew Cashner and Alex Cobb, boy will I take that.
This makes them a legit Wild Card candidate. They won’t be fighting the Yanks or Sox for the division, but Wild Card is in reach. They’re still about $15 million under their payroll from last year too, so could that money go to another bullpen piece? Cobb is a solid veteran who knows the AL East.
The rotation of Alex Cobb, Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman, Andrew Cashner, and Chris Tillman suddenly doesn’t look so bad. Since this is a 4 year deal, it also guarantees Cobb, Bundy, Gausman, and Cashner will be in the rotation for 2 years. Finally, some stability to the rotation. This also means the Orioles won’t have to have Mike Wright Jr, Nestor Cortez Jr, or Miguel Castro in that 5 spot. That is big.
The Orioles needed pitching, and Dan Duquette Brady Anderson did the damn thing. Brady delivered a legit front of the rotation guy. Things looking up in Birdland with just over a week till Opening Day.
AND HE GOT FREE CRABCAKES FROM JIMMYS FAMOUS SEAFOOD! Boy is it good to be Alex Cobb today.