San Diego Padres Could Certainly Use, and Afford, Alex Cobb

According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, the best remaining available free-agent pitcher on the market, Alex Cobb, has been entertaining offers in the $12 million range. The San Diego Padres can definitely afford that.

In a fantastic article from Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports earlier this week, he noted that free-agent starting pitcher, Alex Cobb, has received multiple, multi-year offers this offseason.

While Jake Arrieta may have very well been out of the San Diego Padres’ price-range, Cobb would fit in very nicely.

"Alex Cobb, the best remaining free-agent pitcher, easily could have signed for three years early in the winter. One team was ready to give him four at $12 million per. Cobb’s closest comparable, Lance Lynn, settled for a year at $12 million with the Minnesota Twins this week.Jeff Passan, Yahoo Sports, March 12"

The reasons for the Padres to go after Cobb are virtually the same exact reasons we listed here when it was reported that they were having serious internal discussions about Arrieta.

This is a young, inexperienced rotation outside of Clayton Richard, and adding a front-of-the-rotation hurler like Cobb would certainly plug up some glaring holes in the Friars’ starting five.

More from Friars on Base

• Jurickson Profar free agency update likely rules out Padres reunion
• Fernando Tatis Jr. may not take to outfield move after Xander Bogaerts addition
• Padres News: Fernando Tatis Jr. trade rumors, Seth Lugo chase, Manny Machado
• Padres barely missed out on high-end veteran starting pitcher
• This veteran DH target seems ideal for contending Padres roster

San Diego Padres have some inconsistency in their rotation

Luis Perdomo has struggled mightily this spring, leading some to believe he may even begin the season at Triple-A El Paso.

If this turns out to be the case, it would leave an addition still possible.

Alex Cobb is likely looking for a deal in the $14-$15 million range, for four-to-five years.

Unfortunately, with the happenings in the free-agent world this offseason, that ship has most likely sailed.

As Passan noted in his article, Lance Lynn was searching for a deal in the same neighborhood and had to settle for the one-year agreement he reached with the Twins last week.

If the San Diego Padres were to swoop in and snag Cobb for a healthy, yet cost-effective, $12.5 million per year (even a little more if necessary, but not much) for three years, it could bridge the gap to young studs like Cal Quantrill, MacKenzie Gore, and Joey Lucchesi.

Next: Asuaje Shines in Come From Behind Win Over Cubs

This is all simply food for thought, but if AJ Preller could get Alex Cobb to put pen-to-paper and head into the season with Cobb, Richard, and Dinelson Lamet atop the Friars’ rotation, there could be much joy in Friarville this year.