Los Angeles Angels: Alex Cobb is not enough for rotation

The Los Angeles Angels‘ biggest bugaboo over the past few years has been their inability to find anything that remotely resembles competent pitching. They had attempted a patchwork solution to those pitching woes, signing any arm possible to one year deals in hopes of striking lightning in a bottle. More often than not, those attempts failed miserably.

That has not stopped the Angels from trying again. Jose Quintana has been signed to a one year deal, and they traded for closer Rasiel Iglesias. Then, on Monday, Los Angeles traded for Alex Cobb, another pitcher with a year remaining on his contract.

Alex Cobb is not enough for the Los Angeles Angels

And so, the Angels are pinning their hopes on Cobb. He posted a 2-5 record with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.338 WHiP, striking out 38 batters with 18 walks in his 52.1 innings. While those are not terrible numbers, Cobb is not the same pitcher he had been during his time with the Rays.

Although he is a solid back of the rotation arm, that is not what the Angels need. They need a staff ace, someone that they can hitch their wagons to and ride into the postseason. The offense is good enough to get there, but they simply do not have that needed arm atop the rotation.

There is promise in the Angels rotation. Shohei Ohtani, Griffin Canning, and Dylan Bundy have all displayed potential during their time in the majors. But unless Ohtani can return to his pre-injury form, none of those pitchers are really a staff ace in the making. The Angels’ greatest need remains atop the rotation.

Cobb would be a solid piece for the Angels in another universe. He could solidify the back of their rotation, giving Los Angeles another solid veteran presence for the pitching staff. He just does not fill their greatest need, and is yet another one year rental that the front office is hoping will allow them to patch a pitching staff together.

The Los Angeles Angels still need pitching. Alex Cobb is not enough.