This qualifies as a surprise hot stove rumor for the Yankees.

According to long-time MLB insider Peter Gammons, the Yankees will be heavily involved in the race to sign ex-Rays right-handed starter Alex Cobb.

Heading for Thanksgiving, the industry consensus is that the Alex Cobb showdown will come down to Cubs v. Yankees.

You read that right. A Yankees-Cubs battle for Cobb.

While the 30-year-old would certainly be a help for any rotation in the majors, the idea of the Yankees bidding on a starter this offseason is a bit surprising. With Masahiro Tanaka, Sonny Gray and Luis Severino all slated to be part of the 2018 rotation, 60 percent of a frontline group is complete.

Add in a possible return for CC Sabathia, improvement from Jordan Montgomery, a possible move to the rotation by Chad Green and prospects like Justus Sheffield and Chance Adams close to graduating to the majors, an expenditure on a free-agent arm seems out of left field for the Yankees.

Signing Cobb to a multi-year deal could mean the Yankees are ready to let Sabathia walk or could be thinking about trading away a young arm for help in another area.

Cobb has spent his entire career in the AL East with the rival Rays. Since debuting in 2011, Cobb owns a 3.50 ERA, 3.68 FIP and 111 ERA+. That work has come across 700 career innings and 115 starts. The veteran missed all of 2015 recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Last season, Cobb posted a 3.66 ERA in 179.1 innings and 29 starts.

Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.