Orioles sign right-hander Alex Cobb to four-year contract

By Pete Kerzel

Orioles

March 21, 2018, 9:02am

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The Orioles today announced that they have signed right-hander Alex Cobb to a four-year contract. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-hander JosÃ© Mesa Jr. has been designated for assignment.

Cobb, 30, went 12-10 with a 3.66 ERA (73 ER/179.1 IP) and 128 strikeouts in 29 starts with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017. Over a six-year Major League career, Cobb has gone 48-35 with a 3.50 ERA (272 ER/700.0 IP) and 570 strikeouts in 115 starts. He has started 22 or more games in four seasons, posting double digit wins each of these years.

Since his debut in 2011, Cobb has made 48 starts against the American League East, going 21-13 with a 3.08 ERA (100 ER/292.1 IP). His ERA ranks fifth-best against the division during this time (min. 20 starts). In 2013, he started the AL Wild Card game against Cleveland, tossing 6.2 shutout innings and earning the win. He is 1-0 with a 1.54 ERA (2 ER/11.2 IP) in two career postseason starts.

Originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the fourth round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Cobb played six seasons with the Rays (2011-14, 2016-17).