Detroit Jock City
Fansided

3 Tigers Leaving Detroit in the New Year

With the calendar officially flipping to 2025, these three Tigers are playing for a new contract in the Motor City or elsewhere.

By Jovan Alford

Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda (18) reacts after Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) hits a 2-run home run during the seventh inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, September 14, 2024.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda (18) reacts after Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) hits a 2-run home run during the seventh inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, September 14, 2024. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next

2. Alex Cobb

Detroit needs someone to eat innings in the regular season and hopefully help them get back to the postseason. The 37-year-old Cobb will look to show he still has some juice left in the tank in the Motor City.

The Tigers threw a nice one-year, $15 million deal to Cobb, who pitched well in his limited work last season with the Cleveland Guardians. Cobb underwent hip surgery in 2023, which forced him to miss most of the 2024 season.

The veteran right-handed pitcher finally made his 2024 Guardians’ debut in August after being acquired from the San Francisco Giants. Cobb only made three starts in the regular season as he had two IL stints (fractured finger nail and a blister).

In those three starts, the right-handed pitcher had a 2-1 record and a 2.76 ERA. He recorded 10 strikeouts but allowed 14 hits, five earned runs (a home run), and three walks in 16.1 innings pitched.

Cleveland tried to see what Cobb could do in the postseason, but he had a 7.94 ERA and was scratched from his ALCS start because of injury. Detroit is banking on Cobb being healthy and returning to his All-Star form in 2023. During that season with the Giants, he had a 7-7 record and 3.87 ERA across 28 starts (151.1 innings pitched).

If Cobb and Maeda can solidify themselves within the Tigers’ rotation this season, it would take a lot of pressure off Skubal to not have to go 7-plus innings. However, if the Cobb signing does not work out, the Tigers will have his money off the books.

Tigers fans will try not to think that way because it means Cobb got injured again or the team is struggling ahead of the trade deadline. For all intents and purposes, Detroit is looking to compete, especially after signing Torres.

Home/Detroit Tigers