Cobb will begin comeback in Cleveland after trade from Giants

The Giants traded right-hander Alex Cobb to the Guardians for Minor League left-hander Jacob Bresnahan and a player to be named later on Tuesday.

Cobb has yet to make his season debut, but he’s on the verge of completing his long rehab from left hip surgery and right shoulder irritation, making him an intriguing arm to follow down the stretch. The 36-year-old veteran is coming off an All-Star campaign with the Giants, logging a 3.87 ERA over 28 starts in 2023.

Cobb appeared to be on track for a May return after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip over the offseason, but his timeline was pushed back after he was shut down with right shoulder issues. He finally started to progress after receiving nerve medication and began a rehab assignment on June 30, posting a 3.93 ERA with 24 strikeouts over 18 1/3 innings across six starts in the Minors.

The Giants hoped Cobb would be ready to come off the 60-day injured list on Wednesday and start against the A’s, but he was further delayed by a right index finger blister that cut short his last rehab start on Friday.

"I’m almost embarrassed that something keeps happening every time I’m almost ready," Cobb said Sunday. "It’s right around the corner, and then I have to deal with another [setback]. They tend to be minor, and I’m thankful it’s nothing major and I’m where I’m at, but I was ready. ... Just dealing with the punches as they come. At some point, I’ll be on the mound, I hope.”

Cobb’s long-awaited comeback will now take place in Cleveland, where he’s poised to reunite with Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz, who served as the Giants’ bullpen coach from 2020-23 and was Cobb’s first catcher in pro ball in the Rays' organization in 2006. Cobb is owed the remainder of his $10 million salary this year and will be eligible for free agency at the end of the season.

Cobb knew he could be traded given his contract situation, but he expressed hope that he would be able to ride it out with the Giants (53-55), who entered Tuesday four games out of the final National League Wild Card spot.

“I know I’m a free agent,” Cobb said. “I don’t know what my career is going to look like next year. I’ve loved every minute of being a Giant. I’ve loved everything about this organization, the city, pitching here, the teammates.

“Obviously, I want to win, but I also want to win with a team that I’ve lost with. I think going through the last 2 1/2 years of not living up to expectations and not being where we want to be would make once we eventually win -- which I envision us doing here -- so much more special than just jumping on a team that’s put all the work in and just kind of jumped on the tail end of it with two months left in the season and not really feeling a part of it. I think there’s something more special about going through losses with teams and being on the other end when they win.”

With Cobb no longer in the fold, the Giants should have an opening in their rotation for rookie Hayden Birdsong, who has opened eyes after recording a 2.97 ERA with 38 strikeouts over 30 1/3 innings in his first six Major League starts. San Francisco is also expected to take an extended look at No. 3 prospect Marco Luciano, who is likely to be promoted from Triple-A Sacramento now that designated hitter Jorge Soler has been traded to the Braves.

Bresnahan, 19, was a 13th-round Draft pick of the Guardians in 2023 and has recorded a 2.70 ERA with 66 strikeouts over 50 innings in 12 starts between the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League and Single-A Lynchburg this year.

The Giants also announced that they traded right-hander Mike Baumann to the Angels in exchange for cash considerations. Baumann, 28, gave up two runs over two-thirds of an inning in his lone appearance for San Francisco before being designated for assignment last week.