5 Cleveland Guardians free agents who should not be back in 2025

5. Alex Cobb - Starting Pitcher

In need of pitching help at the trade deadline, the Cleveland Guardians swung a deal with the San Francisco Giants for veteran pitcher Alex Cobb. Like most of their additions in 2024, it was a low-risk high-reward-type move, and while some were successful, Cobb's was not.

Cobb made just three regular season starts for the Guardians, and his overall numbers in those appearances were fine (5 earned runs, 14 hits, 10 strikeouts, and 3 walks in 16.1 innings), but that is not really the issue here. Health was an issue for Cobb during his time in Cleveland, as he missed time due to a blister and a fractured fingernail. Cobb's health issues were not limited to the regular season, as he ended up being replaced by Ben Lively on the ALCS roster due to a back injury.

It honestly feels like Cobb's time with the Guardians was the living embodiment of Sideshow Bob repeatedly stepping on a rake and getting smacked in the face, with the rake being a different kind of injury. Considering that Cobb just turned 37, it is unlikely that his recurring health problems are going to go away anytime soon. Cobb may be able to get back to pitching at a productive level, but bringing him back and hoping that happens is just too risky for the Guardians in their current state. The best path for them to solidify their rotation would be to look elsewhere.