Could Cobb consume leftover innings?

The decision to trade Dylan Bundy to the Angels left a big hole in an Orioles rotation that already had team officials scrambling to fill spots. He made 30 starts in 2019 and logged 161 2/3 innings, totals that led the club with rookie John Means as the surprise runner-up.

Means bested Bundy in plenty of other categories, including wins, ERA, WHIP, average against and WAR. But the first-round pick in 2011 has left lots of people wondering how the Orioles replace those innings.

Is the answer already in their organization?

Alex Cobb is coming back from hip and knee surgeries after making only three April starts last season that amounted to 12 1/3 innings. The Orioles remain confident that he's going to be full-go in camp and join Means in the upper portion of the rotation.

With his biggest health issues in 2018 related to blisters on his pitching hand, Cobb managed to make 28 starts and total 152 1/3 innings while going 5-15 with a 4.90 ERA and 1.411 WHIP. He finished with a career-high 179 1/3 innings with the Rays in 2017 before landing a four-year, $57 million contract.

The idea of Cobb filling the Bundy void becomes a temporary solution if he's healthy and really good in the first half and the Orioles are able to move him at the trade deadline. But they'd love to be in a situation where they have to make room for prospects Keegan Akin and Dean Kremer.

It eats at Cobb that he hasn't lived up to his contract, in case anyone thinks he's laughing all the way to the bank.

Here's what he told me in a June phone interview, which, full disclosure, took place while I stood in a bar in Charleston, S.C.:

"I feel awful the way everything's kind of transpired and my career so far in Baltimore. I am working hard to make the future the best that I can. I can't undo what's happened already, but I'm going to work hard to make things right going forward."

The right outcome for the Orioles would be for Cobb to find success and make himself a trade chip to a contender, which could offer some salary relief and perhaps bring a notable prospect.

Manager Brandon Hyde can decide later whether a healthy Cobb gets the opening day assignment on March 26 at Camden Yards. Means is the other option, with no one else expected to be in the running unless injuries or extreme ineffectiveness muck up the works.

The veteran free agent who is expected to sign later - before or after pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 11 - is more likely to slot into the middle or back end of the rotation. Maybe he pushes Asher Wojciechowski out of the third spot.

The other candidates seem to have No. 5 or swingman ceilings, including Kohl Stewart and Rule 5 pick Brandon Bailey, based on a lack of experience or consistency at the major league level.

David Hess has made 44 appearances in the majors, 33 of them starts, but is 4-20 with a 5.84 ERA and 1.456 WHIP in 183 1/3 innings. He's held the Blue Jays to three earned runs in 32 2/3 innings, in case Hyde wants to go matchup crazy.

* This one comes from MASN's Tom Davis, who loves to crunch numbers and mine for oddities.

The Orioles had three prospects ranked in Baseball America's Top 100 - Adley Rutschman at No. 5, Grayson Rodriguez at No. 35 and DL Hall at No. 47.

The Baltimore Colts won Super Bowl 5, and the Ravens won Super Bowls 35 and 47.

Coincidence? Well, of course. But props to Tom for noticing.

* The "Birdland Caravan" meet and greet in Ellicott City on Saturday, Feb. 8 has been moved to Turf Valley Resort in the Cameo Ballroom. The event was previously scheduled to be held at La Palapa Grill & Cantina.

The meet and greet runs from 11 a.m.-noon and features executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias, infielder Hanser Alberto and Orioles Hall of Famer Brian Roberts.