The 2021 Los Angeles Angels have traded for pitcher Alex Cobb in a deal with the Baltimore Orioles.
Cobb who has spent the last three seasons in Baltimore is headed into the final year of a four-year, $57 million deal and is set to be paid $15 million in 2021. Los Angeles sends infield prospect Jahmai Jones to the Orioles. The Orioles will absorb more than half of Cobb’s $15MM salary.
2021 Los Angeles Angels Look To Bolster Rotation With Cobb
Cobb started 10 games for the Orioles in 2020. He went 2-5 with a 4.30 earned run average and a WHIP of 1.338. For his career, Cobb has a record of 55-57 in 156 starts with a 3.88 ERA and WHIP of 1.265.
If 2020 showed us anything it is that the Angels pitching (both starters and relievers) was something of a tire fire. Dylan Bundy, who was ironically drawn out of the Orioles organization, proved to be their best pitcher going 6-3 with a 3.29 ERA, a WHIP of 1.036, and FIP of 2.95. He also proved to be trade bait when the Angels fell out of contention in 2020.
Julio Teheran, another of their acquisitions in 2020, went 0-4 with a 10.05 ERA, a FIP of 8.62, and a WHIP of 1.755, showing the good and bad of what happened with the Angels 2020 pitching pickups.
The Angels overall ranked 13th of 15 teams in 2020 with a 5.09 ERA against the rest of the American League. They were 14th in runs, 13th in earned runs and 12th in home runs. Their team total FIP was 4.49.
It’s really hard to see given Cobb’s stats how he makes the 2021 Los Angeles Angels rotation better. It’s a case of wait and sees and the Angels pitching needs a serious boost that many fans think only someone like Trevor Bauer this year’s most high-profile free-agent pitcher can provide. They need to commit money to this starting rotation but that’s a call we have heard quite a bit for several seasons.
Angels May Regret Giving Up Jahmai Jones
In trading Jahmai Jones, The Angels give up a former second-round draft pick who at one point ranked among MLB’s top 100 prospects at Baseball America.
The 23-year-old Jones went 3-for-7 in a very brief MLB debut with the Angels in 2020. He could be plugged into the big league mix as soon as this season. Jones has played second base and center field throughout his minor league career.
The Angels already have depth at infield and have pinned their hopes on David Fletcher who looks to be their opening day starter.
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