The trade of veteran pitcher Alex Cobb to the Cleveland Guardians was not well-received in the San Francisco Giants clubhouse. However, the move provided the 2023 NL All-Star with an opportunity to compete in the playoffs, as the Guardians activated him ahead of the ALDS, according to a team announcement.
Cobb had been a reliable presence in the Giants’ rotation over the past couple of seasons but didn’t appear for the team this year due to offseason hip surgery and subsequent setbacks. As he neared a return, he was traded to the Guardians in a three-player deal that saw the Giants acquire young pitching prospect Jacob Bresnahan and infielder Nate Furman.
The trade also allowed the Giants to give more innings to Hayden Birdsong, who gained valuable experience by finishing the season in the rotation. Birdsong posted a 4.75 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 72 innings, including a strong final outing against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Meanwhile, Cobb only made three starts for the Guardians before landing on the injured list with a blister, recording a 2.76 ERA over 16.1 innings. While the trade didn’t seem to have much immediate impact, the Giants’ lack of a clear trade deadline strategy left the team without direction, contributing to their playoff exit.
Looking ahead, the Giants will have a hole in their rotation to address this offseason. With commitments to Logan Webb and Robbie Ray, a mid-rotation arm could be a priority, and a reunion with Cobb may be an option worth considering.
