Braves Rumors: 3 high-end rentals, 2 extension candidates to target in trades

Braves trade targets No. 3: Alex Cobb would be a perfect veteran arm in Atlanta

Alex Cobb has certainly been well-traveled in his lengthy MLB career, having spent six season with the Rays, three years with the Orioles, one with the Angels, and now a member of the Giants since the 2022 campaign.

One of the throughlines for Cobb in his career, however, is that he’s always been a solid starter who can be a key cog at the back end of a rotation. He’s taken that up a notch in the 2023 season in San Francisco, though, iwth arguably one of the best seasons of his career and certainly the best run of his recent history.

In 13 starts with the Giants this year, Cobb has been wholly impressive with a 3.01 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. While he has seen his ERA rise relatively recently, he’s remained extremely reliable whenever he’s been the starter.

With the Giants falling out of contention, though, Cobb is in what could be the final year of his contract as he has a $10 million club option for the 2024 season left on the deal. At 35 years old, that could make him an asset that San Francisco would look to deal to try and get something in return as the franchise seemingly looks toward a younger direction.

That should be of keen interest to the Atlanta Braves and the front office. Cobb is a higher-end version of what Hendricks would be as a rental as he could still fill out the back of the rotation, but with better performances. Moreover, he also offers the club flexibility about potentially keeping him as a Charlie Morton replacement for the 2024 season if they so choose, which could be quite enticing on the trade market.