Giants To Exercise Club Option On Alex Cobb; Sean Manaea Opts Out Of Contract

The San Francisco Giants have decided to exercise their $10MM club option on Alex Cobb’s services for the 2024 season, as reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post (X link). In another notable pitching development for the Giants, Sean Manaea has chosen to opt out of the final year of his contract and test free agency, according to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic (via X).

Although there was some uncertainty due to Cobb’s recent hip surgery, it was widely expected that his option would be picked up. Despite the potential setback, the Giants believe that the $8MM net decision (including the $2MM buyout) is still worthwhile. Cobb has been dealing with hip problems throughout the season and was officially placed on the injured list in late September, ending his year.

Cobb joined the Giants in November 2021 on a three-year, $28MM deal, and with the option exercised, he has performed admirably, boasting a 3.80 ERA over 301 innings. He even made the All-Star team last season. While some of his pitching metrics declined from 2022 to 2023, Cobb showed improvement in his walk rate and fastball velocity. Furthermore, he has a 59.4% groundball rate over the last two seasons, and a .327 BABIP suggests that his numbers could have been even better with a stronger infield defense behind him.

Injuries have been a challenge for Cobb during his time with the Giants, as he has been placed on the injured list on four separate occasions. Nonetheless, Cobb has provided durability to the rotation alongside Logan Webb, as the two have been the primary starting pitchers for much of the 2023 season. The Giants have addressed other spots in the rotation using various strategies, including piggyback-style pitcher usage and using an opener/bulk pitcher combo.

Sean Manaea was one of the pitchers utilized in this manner, starting only 10 of his 37 appearances. However, he frequently served in bulk pitcher or piggyback roles and finished the season with a respectable 4.44 ERA and an above-average 25.7% strikeout rate over 117 2/3 innings pitched. This marked a rebound for Manaea after a challenging 2022 season with the Padres.

Despite his prior struggles, Manaea signed a two-year, $25MM deal with the Giants last offseason, including a built-in opt-out clause to potentially re-enter the market with a stronger platform year. While not a breakout season on paper, the left-hander should attract multi-year offers as he enters his age-32 season, likely in a full-time starting role.

Heading into the 2024 season, the Giants’ rotation features Webb, Cobb (when healthy), DeSclafani (if healthy), Stripling (who opted out), and Kyle Harrison. The team also has Tristan Beck, Jakob Junis, and Keaton Winn as depth options. While the Giants may employ a mix-and-match approach, they are actively seeking pitchers to bring stability to their starting five. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is a potential target, and the team may explore other free agent or trade options based on their level of aggressiveness.