Tigers Weigh Cobb‘s Return, Prioritizing Performance Over sentiment
Detroit, MI - August 26, 2024 – The Detroit Tigers are cautiously evaluating veteran pitcher Michael Cobb as he continues to recover from injury, but manager A.J. Hinch made it clear a return to the mound hinges solely on his ability to contribute to winning baseball. Cobb, who signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Tigers in January, has been sidelined due to injury, adn the team isn’t rushing his activation.
Cobb, 36, has spent 13 seasons in Major League Baseball, pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays (2011-14, 2016-17), Baltimore Orioles (2018-20), Los Angeles Angels (2021), San Francisco Giants (2022-23), and the Cleveland Guardians (2024) before joining Detroit. Throughout his career, Cobb has consistently functioned as a starting pitcher, making all 233 of his MLB appearances as a starter. He’s known for a fastball-slider combination, often mixing in four-seam fastballs.
The tigers’ approach to Cobb’s potential return is pragmatic. Hinch emphasized the team’s focus on fielding a competitive roster. “I think the goal is to have as many productive players as we can and guys that can help us win,” Hinch stated. “If that’s the case and it lines up, then great. We want him to be good. We want him to help us win. We want him to be a part of this because we think that the stuff has been pretty good throughout the summer.He just hasn’t been able to bounce back as much.”
Hinch clarified that the decision isn’t about offering a “feel-good story.” “It’s not just trying to be the good guy and try to give him a platform to pitch again. That’s not been the motivation. It’s because when he has flashed that stuff over the last handful of outings, it’s been pretty good. He hasn’t always been able to retain it, or hasn’t been able to bounce back, and that’s what we’re working towards.”
The Tigers are evaluating Cobb’s progress on a day-to-day basis, recognizing the limited time remaining in the season. With expanded September rosters on the horizon,Cobb will need to demonstrate he can compete with the team’s current pitching staff – currently projected at 13-14 arms – to earn a spot.
The team is focused on Cobb regaining his form and durability. His injury history has been a concern throughout his career,impacting his availability. the Tigers are hoping he can overcome these challenges and provide a valuable boost to their playoff push.Looking Ahead: The Detroit Tigers’ 2026 season is already on the calendar, with Opening Day scheduled for March 26th against the San Diego Padres.Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press contributed to this report. Contact him at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to “Days of Roar,” a Detroit Free Press sports podcast,every Monday on Apple,Spotify,or wherever you get your podcasts. Find all podcasts and daily briefings at freep.com/podcasts.
