The 2024 MLB trade deadline saw the SF Giants make a move that, in hindsight, turned out to be a brilliant stroke of genius. They traded away starting pitcher Alex Cobb, but the real winners of this deal were the Giants themselves.
At the time, it seemed like a minor trade, but the Giants' former president of baseball operations, Farhan Zaidi, pulled off a steal. Cobb's absence due to injury meant he never threw a pitch for the Giants in 2024, but the team's confidence in their rotation allowed them to part ways with him.
The Giants traded Cobb to the Cleveland Guardians, acquiring left-handed pitching prospect Jacob Bresnahan and utility bat Nate Furman. Furman's impressive numbers from last season, despite a small sample size, caught the eye. In just 36 games across multiple levels, he slashed .369/.493/.607 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs.
Furman, a 24-year-old non-roster invitee to spring training, will have the chance to prove if those numbers were a fluke or a sign of things to come. Meanwhile, Bresnahan, ranked as the Giants' 11th-best prospect last year, had a solid season with the San Jose Giants, showcasing a 9-3 record and a 2.61 ERA in 22 starts.
Both players are solid additions, and if either of them makes an impact at the big league level, it will be a testament to Zaidi's foresight.
As for Cobb, he made a few appearances for Cleveland in 2024 before signing a one-year, $15 million deal with the Detroit Tigers. Unfortunately, his time with the Tigers was cut short due to season-ending hip surgery, and he has yet to formally retire.
The Giants' trade for Cobb has proven to be a masterstroke, and the development of Bresnahan and Furman will only add to their success. At this point, it's clear that the Giants came out on top in this deal.
What do you think? Was this trade as one-sided as it seems, or are there other factors to consider? Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
