Fansided

One free agent each MLB team should sign right now

By Joshua Sadlock

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 27: Starting pitcher Alex Cobb
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 27: Starting pitcher Alex Cobb /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
16 of 30
Next
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 22: Alex Cobb BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 22: Alex Cobb #53 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 22, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Rays won 8-3. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 22: Alex Cobb BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 22: Alex Cobb #53 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 22, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Rays won 8-3. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Milwaukee Brewers: Alex Cobb

The Brewers were rumored to be in the running for right-hander Yu Darvish, but once the Cubs came in with a six-year offer, Milwaukee was blown out of the water. That’s fine — the Brewers know their place in the market and were not going to spend beyond their means on a risky deal for a pitcher who is coming off a down season.

Alex Cobb, like Darvish, has already had Tommy John surgery. Prior to going under the knife, Cobb was 35-23 with a 3.21 ERA in 81 starts for the Tampa Bay Rays. His return from surgery in 2016 was ugly, but the right-hander bounced back to post a solid 3.66 ERA in 29 starts last year while showing good command and a respectable home-run rate.

With another full offseason under his belt, Cobb should continue trending closer to his pre-surgery form. He has not shown a good feel for his split-finger since coming back, and that has affected his strikeout rate. That pitch makes Cobb a legitimate candidate to lead a rotation.

Milwaukee surprised the National League by staying in the Wild Card hunt until the final week of the year. The Brew Crew is not going away anytime soon, and could be ready to make a serious run at the NL Central crown with Christian Yelich. One more established starter joining Zach Davies, Chase Anderson, and hopefully Jimmy Nelson could put them over the top.

Home/MLB