Texas Rangers: Would Alex Cobb Be A Fit in the Rotation?

Finding starting pitching is going to be the most difficult task for the Texas Rangers this off-season. The free agent pitching market isn’t great, but still solid players available that Texas could add this winter.

If starting pitcher Alex Cobb does hit the free agent market this off-season, should the Texas Rangers go after him? The 30-year-old starter is coming off a solid year with Tampa Bay, and could fit in nicely with the Rangers.

In 2017 Cobb went 12-10 posting a 3.66 ERA in 29 starts with Tampa Bay. He finished with a 2.4 WAR which is the best since his 2014 season. He’s not a top of the rotation pitcher, but could help fill the holes in the starting rotation.

The Rangers are looking at having Cole Hamels as their ace starter. Let’s assume they pick up the team option on lefty Martin Perez. That gives the Rangers two starters, and no reliable options behind them.

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If Texas can re-sign Andrew Cashner that would be perfect for them. They could then get Cobb on likely a similar deal and have at least four reliable options in the starting rotation. The down side is that would give Texas three starters over 30 years old.

Both Cashner and Cobb will likely seek three or four year deals this winter. It could cost Texas in the long run, but both pitchers are coming off reliable 2017 seasons.

Texas could probably sign both Cashner and Cobb with the amount of money it would take them to re-sign Yu Darvish. Adding an ace pitcher is going to be too costly especially when Texas has more than one hole to fill this off-season.

The back-end of those deals could potentially come back to haunt Texas, but it’s worth it. Depending on the price tag, Texas should go after both Cashner and Cobb this off-season.

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