The Guardians continue to stockpile rehabbing experienced pitchers while supporters await a larger move, sending Jacob Bresnahan and a player to be named later to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for 36-year-old right-handed pitcher Alex Cobb.
Cobb has been recuperating this season after having hip laburm surgery in the winter and experiencing shoulder pain. He had a decent rehab start for the Giants in Triple-A but then popped a blister, postponing his expected return to the big leagues until next weekend (8/6-8/9).
These are the types of moves that will allow Cleveland to avoid relying on Logan Allen, Triston McKenzie, and Joey Cantillo to figure things out while also improving on Carlos Carrasco’s dismal output. However, if at all possible, Matthew Boyd or Alex Cobb should not start a playoff game.
Cobb had a 4.01 FIP last season, with a 7.79/2.20 K/BB/9. He has a 54.5% career groundball rate while using his top two pitches, a sinker and a splitter. This blend should complement the Guardians’ outstanding infield defense. It might also be a cause to keep Brayan Rocchio at shortstop (sorry, folks) or give Gabriel Arias another chance (sorry again, folks). Perhaps the Guardians have a move in mind for someone who is defensive. Still playing shortstop.
Meanwhile, Bresnahan, a 19-year-old left-hander with a 2.54 ERA in the Arizona Complex League, was recently promoted to Lynchburg Low-A. He’s 6’4″, 195 pounds, and intriguing, but as a 13th-round pick, I can understand why the Guardians were prepared to trade the intriguing adolescent for some seasoned depth given where they are in the competitive process.
Will Cobb be all she wrote about today? Is Cobb a backup plan in case Boyd doesn’t remain healthy or if another deal for a more interesting arm goes through? Perhaps and perhaps. Cobb and Boyd provide some seasoned value for the Guardians, with Cobb throwing 151 innings last season. If this is it, Cleveland is betting big on Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, and Ben Lively as the top three starters for a playoff rotation, as well as an elite bullpen. I hope there is more to come, if not for a starter due to inflated prices, then for a bullpen arm to protect against regression or dead arms among the rookie relievers on whom the team has relied so heavily.
