Tigers Hoping For Alex Cobb To Return In Relie

The Tigers plan to use in a multi-inning relief role if hes able to make it back from the injured list, manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (link via ). Cobb signed a one-year deal to work as a starter but has mi sed the entire season due to left hip i sues. We shrunk down the expectations internally on how long he can go in a game, Hinch told McCosky and others. Were trying to see how the two- and three-inning stints go and how he bounces back from that. It has long since pa sed the point for the Tigers to get the return they expected on a $15MM free agent investment. At this point, theyd welcome any contributions from the 37-year-old. Cobb has been on a rehab a signment at Triple-A Toledo for the past week. He has worked between two and three innings in each of his first two appearances. Hes expected to make his next appearance Jim Benning Jersey this weekend. Rehab a signments for pitchers can last up to 30 days. Using Cobb in a relief role could get him back before the end of that window. Speculatively speaking, the Tigers could view September 1 as a target for his reinstatement. Thats when active rosters expand from 26 to 28 and teams are permitted to carry a 14th pitcher. Thatd at least give Cobb a few weeks to audition for a spot on the playoff roster. Detroits bullpen remains arguably its biggest weakne s. Theyve gotten excellent work out of deadline pickup , while righty has been very good all season. is established as their best option from the left side. The middle relief group remains very much in flux. Cobb and deadline acquisition could each return late in the regular season. One of or could move to the bullpen once the postseason begins and teams shrink their rotations in short series. The club also hasnt closed the door on pitching in October, but thats a long shot after he sustained a significant shoulder strain at the end of July. Cobb mi sed almost all of last season because of i sues in his right hip. He began the year with the Giants and was on the injured list through the trade deadline. The Guardians acquired him while he was rehabbing. He made three regular season starts and pitched twice in the postseason with Cleveland. A lower back injury knocked him out of the playoffs during the AL Championship Series. Kirk Mclean Jersey