The Giants could be zeroing in on a free-agent starting pitcher.
The San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser reported Monday that the Giants are "making a strong push" for right-hander Alex Cobb. The New York Post's Joel Sherman followed that up by reporting Cobb and the Giants "are in serious dialogue."
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Cobb, 34, went 8-3 with a 3.76 ERA over 18 starts last season with the Los Angeles Angels. He also had an even better season than his ERA suggests, posting a 119 ERA+ and a 2.92 FIP. His ERA+ was his best since 2016 and his FIP was the best of his 10-year career.
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Though Cobb pitched just 93 1/3 innings, he struck out 98 batters, which is good for a career-high 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings.
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While Cobb might not bursting with upside and potential at this point in his career, he should be a reliable starter next season and his numbers suggest there still is plenty to be desired by the veteran who could benefit from the Giants' coaching staff.