Forgotten pitching prospect from Alex Cobb trade could haunt Guardians’ front office

In 2024, the Cleveland Guardians made some clear win-now moves when they acquired Lane Thomas and Alex Cobb at the trade deadline. 

With the team cruising toward an American League Central crown, the front office elected to dip into its prospect pool in those trades, as they sent LHP Alex Clemmey, SS Rafael Ramirez Jr. and INF José Tena to the Nationals for Thomas and LHP Jacob Bresnahan and INF Nate Furman to the Giants for Cobb. 

While there was a lot of hand-wringing at the time for the trade of Clemmey (MLB Pipeline had him ranked as the team’s No. 8 prospect at the time of the deal), it’s beginning to look like Bresnahan will be the one who got away. 

After struggling in 19 2/3 innings in Single-A with the Giants last year after the trade, the 20-year-old had a strong campaign this year, as he posted a 2.61 ERA in 93 innings at High-A. He's currently ranked as the Giants’ No. 12 prospect per MLB Pipeline and was just named the California League Pitcher of the Year. 

It looks like the Giants fleeced the Guardians in last year's Alex Cobb trade

Although Bresnahan’s strong performance came at a league filled with teenagers trying to stick in professional ball for the first time, it’s the same level that Junior Caminero was at when the Guardians’ front office included him in their ill-fated deal for Tobias Meyers. 

And, like Caminero, Bresnahan was at Single-A at the time of his deal. Cobb was on the injured list at the time of the deal, and he only ended up pitching 22 innings for the Guardians across the regular season and postseason. 

He ended up inking a one-year, $15 million deal with the Tigers in the offseason but will end the year without throwing a pitch for them due to a hip injury. He said that he’s contemplating retirement.

Even if Bresnahan struggles in his rise through the minors and ends up becoming a No. 4 or 5 starter like MLB Pipeline projects, this trade will be a clear win for the Giants considering they were able to get him in exchange for damaged goods in Cobb. 

Furman is also a fast-riser in the Giants’ system, as he hit .369 with seven home runs and 22 RBI in 36 games across four different minor league levels this season. 

Ironically, the Guardians’ trade with the Nationals is looking a bit better even if this year has been an abject disaster for Thomas. Clemmey posted a 6.44 ERA in 29 1/3 innings at Double-A this year, Ramirez hit .171 across 19 games at the Rookie Level and Single-A and Tena only played in 50 games in the majors. 

Bresnahan is still two or three years away from the bigs, but he’s on an upward trajectory as the return in a trade that’s already considering a loss. It’s time to brace yourself for this trade looking worse as the years go on.