Dodgers: Pass or pursue on the 10 biggest free agents this offseason
By Jason Reed
10. RHP Alex Cobb
Alex Cobb was a constant name within MLB trade rumors as the Rays were expected to have a firesale of all their young arms. However, Chris Archer and company still were churning along come October and now Cobb has the chance to leave and chase a ring.
There is no better place to chase a ring than the defending National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Los Angeles Dodgers definitely do have a solid pitching staff, but it could always be improved. A hot start by Brandon McCarthy fizzled out with a case of the yips, and Kenta Maeda may have found his new role in the bullpen. Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood are great, Rich Hill is good and Hyun-Jin Ryu is okay.
However, there is not a single right-handed pitcher in that pitching staff. While Walker Buehler is progressing and was a September call-up, his role in AAA and/or the bullpen seems inevitable. A number two option behind Kershaw is preferred, but Cobb would not be a bad pickup either.
Last season Cobb owned a 12-10 record with a 3.66 ERA. In the National League, those numbers are only destined to go down, especially with Cobb’s career 2.50 ERA in interleague play. Regardless, Cobb would be the perfect right-handed arm to throw right in the middle of the rotation.
Spotrac’s $18.3 million salary estimate is a little hefty, but with freed up space it is not the worst deal for the Dodgers, especially short-term. Overall, if the Dodgers cannot find a surefire second arm behind Kershaw, Cobb is their guy.