Dodgers: Rotation Arms They Should Start Looking at

Alex Cobb

Archer’s teammate Alex Cobb is an intriguing possibility. There were earlier reports of Los Angeles showing interest but nothing came to fruition. He would be a solid get if LA can somehow get him in their own shade of blue.

Cobb has been super unlucky, to say the least, when it comes to injuries. He’s been struck in the head from a line drive and has needed Tommy John Surgery in less than two years apart from each other. However, it hasn’t stopped the 29-year-old from becoming one of the more underrated pitchers in the league.

Before Tommy John surgery, he had a 2.82 ERA and a solid 283 strikeouts in his 309.2 innings from 2013 and 2014. Cobb would slot in well as the Dodgers’ number two or number three starter.

Cobb primarily uses a three-pitch mix that includes a fastball, curveball, and split-change. His split-change is his most effective pitch and his go-to strikeout pitch. It’s as filthy as they come when he has it working good.

However, since his return from Tommy John, his dose of the split-change has decreased, but that is expected. The split-change is supposed to be one of the pitches that comes back to you last after a serious surgery like TJ.

He is still getting into the groove of things this season, as you can tell by the 4.50 ERA in his first three starts, but he’d still be a quality addition. Cobb is a free agent after this season so that might affect LA’s decision making. However, that might even affect Tampa’s, because they are a small-market team notorious for selling off their best players (Evan Longoria is the exception) once they approach free agency. In addition, being a rental will only decrease his value.