The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cobb finalizes $57M deal with Orioles
Right-hander went 12-10 with 3.66 ERA for Rays last year.
The Baltimore Orioles figured Alex Cobb would be a fine fit. Cobb stayed in the division he knew best, finalizing a $57 million, four-year contract on Wednesday.
“They used the AL East and the success I’ve had in it to their advantage,” the 30-year-old right-hander said. “They kept challenging me with it and I love the challenge of pitching in this division and they know that over the times we talked. They did a really good job of making me feel like this is where I need to be.”
Cobb had spent his entire six-season big league career with Tampa Bay and was the last top starting pitcher available in a slow-moving free agent market. He joins Andrew Cashner and Chris Tillman, who were signed last month, in a revamped rotation that includes holdovers Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman.
Cobb was 12-10 with a 3.66 ERA in 29 starts last season. He pitched 179⅓ innings in his first full year back after missing nearly two seasons
because of Tommy John surgery.
Indians: The baseball Hall of Fame says it no longer will use Cleveland’s Chief Wahoo logo for plaques of new members. In a statement, the Hall said Wednesday that it “concurs with the commissioner’s sentiment and acknowledges the shifting societal view of Native American logos in baseball.”
Former Cleveland slugger Jim Thome was elected in January and said he wanted a block C logo on his plaque
when it is unveiled in July. Thome said it was “the right thing to do.”
Major League Baseball announced earlier this year the Chief Wahoo logo won’t appear on Cleveland uniforms starting in the 2019 season. The decision came after discussions between Commissioner Rob Manfred and team owner Paul Dolan.
For years, groups of Native Americans and their supporters have protested outside Cleveland’s stadium before the home opener, saying Chief Wahoo is an offensive depiction of their race. The Hall said that while the Chief Wahoo logo appears on Early Wynn’s 1972 bronze plaque and other exhibits in the museum, it won’t be used on future plaques.
Rangers: Yu Darvish struck out seven in six innings of a 5-1 win over the Cubs.
Padres: Eric Hosmer hit his fourth homer of the spring, a two-run drive in the fifth, in a 4-3 win over the White Sox.
Nationals: Second baseman Daniel Murphy said he’ll likely begin the season on the disabled list while recovering from knee surgery.
Phillies: Prospect Scott Kingery is batting .390 this spring with four home runs.
Royals: Right-hander Clay Buchholz, a two-time AllStar, finalized a minor league contract with Kansas City, and he would get a $1.5 million, one-year deal if added to the 40-man roster. Drafted by Boston with the 42nd overall pick in 2006, Buchholz debuted in August 2007 and pitched a no-hitter in his second big league appearance. He was 81-61 in 10 seasons with the Red Sox. Buchholz was 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA in 7⅓ innings for the Phillies last season.