The Baltimore Orioles figured Alex Cobb would be a fine fit.
Cobb stayed in the division he knew best, finalizing a $57 million, four-year contract on Wednesday.
“They used the AL East and the success I’ve had in it to their advantage,” the 30-year-old right-hander said. “They kept challenging me with it and I love the challenge of pitching in this division and they know that over the times we talked. They did a really good job of making me feel like this is where I need to be.”
Cobb had spent his entire six-season big league career with Tampa Bay and was the last top starting pitcher available in a slow-moving free agent market.
Cobb joined Andrew Cashner and Chris Tillman, who were signed last month, in a revamped rotation that includes holdovers Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman.
The Orioles are coming off a last-place finish and 75-87 record.
Cobb was 12-10 with a 3.66 ERA in 29 starts last season. He pitched 179 1/3 innings in his first full year back after missing nearly two seasons because of Tommy John surgery.
He had turned down the Rays’ $17.4 million qualifying offer in November, and Baltimore pursued him from the start of free agency.
“They didn’t stop bothering me the whole offseason,” Cobb said.
Cobb is 48-35 with a 3.50 ERA in the majors.
Baltimore opens on March 29 at home against Minnesota, but Cobb won’t be ready to pitch then. He has agreed to be optioned to a minor league affiliate to help build up innings.
“I’m going to be pushing it as quick as I can,” he said.
ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUES
ROYALS 12, INDIANS 8
Michael Brantley homered on his first swing of spring training in an encouraging return to Cleveland’s lineup. Brantley made his first start since having offseason ankle surgery. Francisco Lindor, Yonder Alonso and Edwin Encarnacion also went deep for the Indians.
Mike Moustakas hit his third homer in five games since re-signing with Kansas City, and Frank Schwindel homered and drove in four. Schwindel is batting .378 with six homers and 16 RBIs while making a strong case for the Royals’ first base job. Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco was pulled in the fifth inning after taking a line drive off his left foot. The Indians said he is day to day with a left foot bruise.
CUBS 5, RANGERS 1
Yu Darvish struck out seven in six innings, allowing three hits that included Juan Centeno’s leadoff homer in the third. Steve Cishek and Carl Edwards Jr. combined for hitless relief. Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber homered.
PADRES 4, WHITE SOX 3
Eric Hosmer hit his fourth homer, a two-run drive in the fifth. Padres starter Luis Perdomo gave up one run and five hits in five innings, and Chicago’s Reynaldo Lopez allowed three runs and five hits in five innings. Matt Skole and Yermin Mercedes homered.
ASTROS 8, NATIONALS 3
Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr. struck out six over 5 1/3 shutout innings, allowing two hits. Josh Reddick homered, tripled and singled. Washington starter Gio Gonzalez gave up eight runs in 4 2/3 innings. Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy said he’ll likely begin the season on the disabled list while recovering from knee surgery.
RED SOX 8, RAYS 3
J.D. Martinez doubled, singled and drove in three runs and Blake Swihart homered for Boston. C.J. Cron homered for Tampa Bay.
CARDINALS 13, MARLINS 6
Marcell Ozuna, Matt Carpenter and Paul DeJong all homered for St. Louis. Cameron Maybin and Garrett Cooper doubled for Miami.
PHILLIES 7, BLUE JAYS 7
Rhys Hoskins hit two home runs, including a drive off Toronto starter Marcus Stroman. Philadelphia prospect Scott Kingery had a pinch-hit homer - he is batting .390 this spring with four home runs. Roemon Fields hit a tying RBI triple in the ninth.
BREWERS 4, ATHLETICS 3
Wade Miley gave up two runs and three hits in four innings, and Eric Thames hit a two-run homer. Daniel Mengden yielded two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. Chad Pinder homered.
TWINS 3, PIRATES 1
Jose Berrios allowed a run over five innings, lowering his spring training ERA to 1.69. Logan Morrison doubled and had two hits to up his average to .381, and Jason Castro added two hits and an RBI. Pirates starter Trevor Williams gave up two runs but struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings.
BRAVES 3, TIGERS 2
Brandon McCarthy struck out four and pitched two-run ball over six innings for Atlanta. The former Dodgers starter has a 1.42 ERA this spring. Preston Tucker had two hits and two RBIs in his bid to break camp with Atlanta. Detroit starter Francisco Lindor walked five and allowed two runs over five innings.
YANKEES 9, ORIOLES 4
Aaron Judge had two homers and four RBIs while New York roughed up Miguel Castro. Greg Bird and Didi Gregorius each drove in two runs for New York, and Aroldis Chapman struck out two of the three batters he faced. Castro allowed five runs in three innings.
GIANTS 14, DIAMONDBACKS 0
Joe Panik led off the game with a home run, and Andrew McCutchen followed two batters later with his first homer with San Francisco during a four-run first inning. Panik, Brandon Belt and Buster Posey each had three hits, and Evan Longoria and Brandon Crawford each had two. Posey is batting .545 this spring. Arizona’s Steven Souza Jr. was pulled in the fourth inning with a strained right shoulder. Souza was injured diving for a fly ball in right-center field.
MARINERS 7, BREWERS 4
Mike Zunino hit three home runs, including a pair of two-run blasts off starter Brent Suter, and drove in five runs with four hits for the Mariners. Robinson Cano, back from a tight hamstring, was 1 for 2 for the Mariners. Suter gave up six runs in 4 2/3 innings. Jonathan Villar had two hits and drove in a pair for the Brewers. Seattle announced that reliever David Phelps will have season-ending Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
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