Tigers Secure Alex Cobb on One-Year Deal

The Detroit Tigers have bolstered their pitching rotation by agreeing to a one-year deal with right-hander Alex Cobb, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The financial terms of the contract have not been disclosed, and the deal is pending a physical. Given that the Tigers' 40-man roster is currently full, a corresponding move will need to be made once the signing becomes official.


This move aligns with the Tigers' recent strategy of opting for short-term deals with starting pitchers. Since Scott Harris took over as president of baseball operations in September 2022, the team has favored short-term contracts. Previous offseasons saw one-year deals for Matthew Boyd and Michael Lorenzen, followed by a one-year deal for Jack Flaherty and a two-year pact for Kenta Maeda.


Heading into 2025, there was speculation that the Tigers might adopt a more aggressive approach, especially after a strong second half of the 2024 season that saw them make the playoffs for the first time in a decade. With a promising core of young players and minimal long-term financial commitments, the Tigers seemed poised to target higher-tier or mid-tier rotation options. However, recent reports indicate that the team prefers to continue pursuing high-upside players on shorter contracts.


Alex Cobb, 37, represents a buy-low option for the Tigers due to his recent struggles. He started the year with the Giants, recovering from offseason hip surgery. While it was initially expected that he would return early in the season, shoulder discomfort delayed his debut. Cobb was traded to the Guardians ahead of the trade deadline but ended up missing significant time.


Despite these setbacks, Cobb has shown potential in the past, and the Tigers are betting on his ability to bounce back. If he can regain his form, Cobb could provide valuable depth and experience to Detroit's rotation.