It has emerged that starting pitcher Alex Cobb has agreed to terms of a 4-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles worth $60 million. Cobb is the latest piece the Orioles look to use as they build their rotation for 2018. Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports was first to report an agreement earlier in the day. Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports released the tweet in the discovery of this signing along with Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and Roch Kubatko of MASN.
Sources: There’s a strong belief that free agent right-hander Alex Cobb is nearing a deal. The team most believe the favorite: The Baltimore Orioles. Cobb has continued to push for a multiyear deal rather than signing the one-year deal some of his contemporaries chose.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 20, 2018
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
Hearing same as Jon and Roch. Four-year deal between $50M and $60M. https://t.co/FdBvzFXmHO
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 20, 2018
Per industry source, #orioles deal with Alex Cobb would be for 4 years. Quite a surprise given their stance at winter meetings.
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) March 20, 2018
Cobb, entering his seventh year in the league is looking to continue his success into 2018 for the Orioles. In 2017, he was 12-10 with an ERA of 3.66 while striking out 126 batters for the Tampa Bay Rays. Cobb joins the Orioles rotation hoping to give them an extra boost as the season comes close and opening day nears. Cobb, who spent all of the last six years with the Rays who were recently accused of collusion during Spring Training, looks to leave his past behind him and play for a winning ballclub.
The Orioles rotation featuring Kevin Gausman, Dylan Bundy, Andrew Cashner, and Chris Tillman will get a good boost by adding Cobb to the mix. The Orioles finished dead last in the American League East last year and they look to finish better this year by adding some arms and making lineup adjustments such as moving Manny Machado to shortstop so they can compete this year.
