Guardians take chance in trading for Giants veteran to potentially help depleted rotation

The Cleveland Guardians got their trade deadline activity kickstarted on Monday night in a deal that saw them acquire outfielder Lane Thomas from the Washington Nationals. They have continued their acquisition spree by reaching a deal with the San Francisco Giants for veteran pitcher Alex Cobb, according to a report from ESPN's Jeff Passan. Heading back to San Francisco in the deal are pitching prospect Jacob Bresnahan and a player to be named later.

It needs to be mentioned that this move is a gamble for Cleveland. Passan notes in the above post that Cobb is yet to pitch in 2024 after undergoing hip surgery, but it was his work in his rehab appearances that played a factor in being moved ahead of the deadline. But again, taking a chance on someone who is yet to pitch in the majors this season is a big risk for the Guardians, even if there is a ton of upside here.

Cobb is an experienced veteran who should bring a lot of value to Cleveland's rotation. With a career 3.85 ERA, 1.276 WHIP, and 7.5 strikeouts per nine, Cobb is going to be able to step right in and make an instant impact, that is, once he is available to pitch. The 36-year-old veteran finished 2023 with a 3.87 ERA, 1.322 WHIP, and 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings, indicating that he is still able to pitch pretty close to his career averages despite his advanced age.

Adding a starter was an absolute must for Cleveland, and they definitely have someone they believe can help this team make it into the postseason and hopefully have an extended playoff run. The Guardians knew they could not just count on one of Triston McKenzie, Logan Allen, or Matthew Boyd to be their pitching acquisition at the deadline. They needed someone who has multiple proven years of productive pitching under his belt, and they believe they got exactly that in Cobb.