Guardians swoop in and steal a potential Twins trade target
One of the storylines heading into the second half of the season has been whether or not the Minnesota Twins can catch the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central.
Cleveland was already up 5.5 games on Minnesota at the trade deadline, but added two more wins as the Guardians made a few trades to try and maintain the distance. First it was Lane Thomas, the Cleveland acquired Alex Cobb from the San Francisco Giants.
The Thomas acquisition is so 2023 in terms of Twins fans potentially being upset about getting scooped by Cleveland. Thomas was on Minnesota’s radar last trade deadline but the team opted to not make any moves — something that is looking increasingly likely again.
Cobb is a slightly different story.
Minnesota has a need for starting pitching but an unwillingness to spend to get it. This was true over the winter when the Twins slashed the payroll by $30 million and remains the same as money is dictating what moves the front office makes.
That’s why Cobb made a bit of sense. He hasn’t pitched yet this season, which implied a cheaper price tag than what the Twins would otherwise have to pay. If he was indeed on the wish list, Minnesota will have to cross him as Cleveland swooped in and landed him first.
Guardians steal a potential Twins trade target right before the deadline
Trade news: The Cleveland Guardians are finalizing a deal to acquire right-hander Alex Cobb from the San Francisco Giants, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2024
While he hasn’t pitched yet due to an injury that has delayed his season debut, all indications are that Cobb has the type of stuff to add to the middle of a contender’s rotation. He’s a lottery ticket, one that had all the makings of a classic Twins gamble.
Cobb is on the older side, has an injury history, and comes cheap both in terms of a trade package and his contract. He’s also on an expiring deal, something the Twins were actively looking for at the deadline, and might have been someone who helps add some insurance to a top rotation of Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, and Bailey Ober.
Instead the Guardians landed him, as everyone in the AL Central wheels and deals while the Twins sit on their hands preparing to stand pat for a second straight year.
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