Blue Jays: Are they the next Philadelphia Phillies? by Bob Ritchie

According to Nick Cafardo of Boston Globe, the Toronto Blue Jays will be one of the teams in the mix for the services of free agent pitcher Alex Cobb in the offseason.

Alex Cobb has spent his entire 6-year career in the American League East after the Rays selected the pitcher in the 4th round of the 2006 amateur draft. The 29-year old earned $4.2 million this past season and is set for a lucrative multi-year payday on the open market.

The right-hander is 11-9 with a 3.39 earned run average fanning 119 hitters in 168 innings of work in 2017. This was his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2015.

Cafardo also indicated that the Orioles and Yankees will also have interest in Cobb due to his track record pitching in the AL East.

Alex Cobb, RHP, Rays — Cobb should make out very well in free agency. One major league source indicated that the Orioles, Yankees, and Blue Jays are very interested, knowing Cobb is battle-tested in the AL East. But the interest in him should be widespread, including in the National League. Cobb is seen as a solid mid-rotation pitcher who won’t be as costly as the perceived No. 1s and 2s.

The Jays have pitchers J.A. Happ, Aaron Sanchez and Marcus Stroman penciled into the 2018 rotation with reliever Joe Biagini in the conversation. Marco Estrada is set to become a free agent at season’s end but the hurler has openly expressed his desire to remain in Toronto even though he is coming off a down 2017 campaign.

The Jays also have prospect Ryan Borucki on the cusp of a major league promotion as well as Tom Koehler under contract for one more season.

Seeing the Blue Jays utilized 14 starting pitchers this season, they definitely will be in the market for quality starting pitching and reliable depth arms in case the blister saga that is Aaron Sanchez rears it’s ugly head again in 2018.

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As the regular season winds down, the rumours and free agent speculation will continue to ramp up, however, I for one am all for the Blue Jays signing Alex Cobb. I like this one.