One of the last truly big names of the 2017-18 MLB free agent class is off the market. According to a report, starting pitcher Alex Cobb has signed with the Baltimore Orioles.
cobb and orioles have agreement on terms. four years. believed to be close to 60M. @Ken_Rosenthal and @masnRoch are on top of it.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 20, 2018
Cobb, who had previously spent his entire career with the Tampa Bay Rays, will remain in the American League East. He will also definitely aid a rotation that was one of baseball’s worst in 2017. A season ago, Orioles starters posted a 5.70 ERA and 1.52 WHIP, ranking dead last in the majors in each category.
Cobb, meanwhile, posted a 3.66 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 2017. The ERA was better than any of Baltimore’s primary starters, while the WHIP trailed only Dylan Bundy (1.20).
Whether the Orioles will have the starting pitching depth to compete for a playoff spot remains to be seen. But their chances of doing so are unquestionably better than they were before the signing.