Alex Cobb has but to pitch this season, because the veteran righty’s restoration from October hip surgical procedure led to a season-opening stint on the 15-day injured listing, after which a transfer to the 60-day IL on April 20. The latter transfer wasn’t essentially surprising because of the vagaries concerned in coming back from a serious process like a hip labrum restore, but some shoulder soreness started to develop for Cobb as he continued his exercises in April.
Sadly, Cobb’s shoulder points have continued, as Giants supervisor Bob Melvin advised NBC Bay Space’s Alex Pavlovic (hyperlinks to X) and different reporters immediately. Consequently, Cobb’s throwing program has been placed on maintain, and it seems to be a lock that Cobb will stay on the IL effectively past his first eligible activation date of Might 27.
An MRI on Cobb’s shoulder got here again clear final month, so there apparently isn’t any structural situation even when his newest setback may result in one other set of assessments. Cobb additionally acquired a cortisone shot to assist overcome the soreness, however that therapy additionally didn’t appear to unravel the issue. Till extra is thought concerning the state of affairs, it looks like Cobb and the Giants are taking part in ready sport within the hopes that relaxation and rehab can get Cobb’s shoulder feeling higher, so he can lastly correctly begin to ramp up his preparations to start his season.
The Giants initially signed Cobb to a two-year, $20MM deal following the 2021 season, and that contract turned a three-year pact paying Cobb $28MM as soon as San Francisco exercised its membership choice on his providers final November, even within the wake of the right-hander’s hip surgical procedure. Regardless of the damage issues, Cobb pitched effectively sufficient (3.80 ERA over 301 innings) in 2022-23 to fairly simply justify the entrance workplace’s resolution to train that choice, but naturally some second-guessing is inevitable if Cobb is now wanting like he might miss no less than half the season.
Between Cobb and San Francisco’s commerce for Robbie Ray this previous winter, the Giants have been relying on a pair of veteran reinforcements to the rotation throughout the season — Cobb when he was via his restoration, and Ray round August as soon as his Tommy John rehab was full. Between this duo and the signings of Blake Snell and Jordan Hicks, the Giants have been hoping to have a deep steady of pitching choices round Logan Webb, prime prospect Kyle Harrison, and a bunch of different younger arms.
The outcomes have been combined so far, because the rotation has been fairly prime heavy. Webb, Harrison, and Hicks have all appeared fairly sharp, whereas Snell, Keaton Winn, and Mason Black have all struggled mightily. Accidents have additionally been an element, as Snell and Winn are each on the 15-day IL however Snell is nearing a return. The reigning NL Cy Younger Award winner is slated to be activated this coming week, with Pavlovic considering Wednesday is a possible date to be able to line Snell up behind Webb within the rotation.
Snell might hardly have gotten off to a worse begin to his Giants tenure, posting an 11.57 ERA in 11 2/3 innings and three begins earlier than hitting the IL with an adductor pressure. This got here after Snell’s longer-than-expected stint in free company didn’t finish till he signed a two-year, $62MM cope with San Francisco on March 19, and he pitched in just some simulated video games in prolonged Spring Coaching earlier than making his first MLB begin of the yr on April 8.
Nevertheless, Snell seems to have gotten in kind throughout his minor league rehab stint. The southpaw’s two minor league rehab begins (one in A-ball, one in Triple-A) have been virtually actually excellent, as Snell has delivered 9 hitless innings and only a single stroll, with 17 strikeouts. A wholesome Snell pitching like his 2023 self could be a big enhance to the Giants’ workers, and it could assist the group dig itself out of a lackluster 21-25 starting to the season.
