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Detroit Tigers 'probably set for now' in starting rotation after signing Alex Cobb
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- Detroit Tigers 'probably set for now' in starting rotation after signing Alex Cobb
DALLAS — Don't expect a Justin Verlander reunion .
The Detroit Tigers aren't planning to pursue additional starting pitchers (aside from Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki ) for the 2025 season after signing right-hander Alex Cobb to a one-year, $15 million contract , which can max out at $17 million.
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Cobb, 37, will earn a $1 million bonus for throwing 140 innings and another $1 million bonus for throwing 150 innings. The 13-year veteran previously threw 149⅔ innings in 2022 and 151⅓ innings in 2023, but a pair of injuries limited him to just 16⅓ innings in 2024.
ROSTER PREDICTION 1.0: Rotation bolstered with Alex Cobb, but who starts at third base on Opening Day?
"I think we're probably done for now," general manager Jeff Greenberg said Tuesday at the Winter Meetings, located at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. " Tarik (Skubal) , Reese (Olson) , now Alex, and we have seven or eight additional guys on our roster."
Guardians starting pitcher Alex Cobb pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of Game 3 of the ALDS, Oct. 9, 2024, in Detroit.
The Tigers have three starters locked in: Skubal , Olson and Cobb. Jackson Jobe — the top pitching prospect in baseball — is well-positioned to be the fourth starter, but he needs to win the job in spring training.
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If that happens, there will be at least six pitchers vying for the final spot in the Tigers' five-man rotation: Keider Montero , Brant Hurter , Ty Madden , Kenta Maeda , Casey Mize and Matt Manning . ( Sawyer Gipson-Long , recovering from Tommy John surgery, won't be ready for Opening Day.)
"Some of whom obviously stepped up towards the end of last year, some of whom have a little more experience," Greenberg said. "I feel like we have quality. We have depth. Alex obviously raises our ceiling. He raises our floor as well."
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The Tigers will bring all of those additional pitchers to spring training as starters, but some of them could transition to roles in the bullpen by the end of camp.
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Montero, Hurter, Madden, Maeda and Mize have varying levels of experience working as relievers.
TOP PROSPECT: Tigers not promising top prospect Jackson Jobe will make 2025 Opening Day roster
"There is a possibility that we could repurpose some of that starting pitching depth to fill out roles in the bullpen," president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Monday. "I feel like we have a strong base of starting pitching, and we have a strong base in our bullpen. We may change up some of the roles."
Akil Baddoo gets cut
Outfielder Akil Baddoo was designated for assignment Tuesday by the Tigers, creating space for Cobb on the 40-man roster. He will be placed on waivers.
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The 40-man roster remains at 40 players.
ANOTHER CUT COMING? Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson needs to earn spot on Opening Day roster
Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo during picture day at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.
Baddoo is guaranteed to make at least $1.24 million in the 2025 season because the Tigers tendered him a contract . That salary will need to be picked up by his new team if he is claimed off waivers. If he goes unclaimed, the Tigers plan to keep him in the organization by outrighting him to Triple-A Toledo.
"Our 40-man is more talented than it has been in the past," Harris said Tuesday. "It's not really a criticism of Akil. It's more of an acknowledgement that our 40-man is more talented than it has been in recent years. It's more of a numbers game than anything."
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Baddoo spent the past four seasons on the Tigers' 40-man roster, playing 340 games. The 26-year-old was acquired by the Tigers in December 2020 as part of the Rule 5 draft .
His playing time decreased from 124 games in 2021 to 31 games in 2024. He hit .137 with two home runs, eight walks and 27 strikeouts last season.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers set with starting rotation after signing Alex Cobb
