SF Giants must trade this player to keep red-hot rookie in the rotation

The SF Giants are set to get reinforcements back in the starting rotation soon. This is good news, but it could also mean that it forces red-hot rookie Hayden Birdsong out of the rotation. That is why the Giants should trade Alex Cobb.

SF Giants must trade this player to keep red-hot rookie in the rotation

The rotation of the Giants has been battered so far this season. Injuries have forced them to only have two starting pitchers for stretches of the season. Thankfully, they are now at a place where they have 5 starting pitchers they can rely on.

Not only that, but they are set to get back two starters who have been on the shelf all year in Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray. Both veterans have fought hard to get back for the team and it was announced that Ray will make his Giants debut on Wednesday against the Dodgers. Cobb is not too far behind him it seems like.

This may make it seem like the Giants now have 7 starting pitchers, but that is not the case. It was announced that Jordan Hicks will be moving back to the bullpen after the experiment to have him in the rotation reaped rewards early in the first half but fatigue eventually set in.

However, that means that the Giants would still have 6 starters when both Cobb and Ray return which could mean the rookie Birdsong will be sent down. Of course, Birdsong was just sent down to make room for newly acquired pitcher Mike Baumann. Birdsong will likely be back for the doubleheader against the Rockies on Saturday, though.

Birdsong should be back for the rest of the season, though. The rookie has a 3.55 ERA in 5 starts highlighted by an impressive 12 strikeout performance against the Rockies, in Coors Field, on Sunday. He has proven that he deserves an extended look in the rotation the rest of this season.

That means the Giants need to clear an extra spot in the rotation for Birdsong. They should trade starting pitcher Alex Cobb to make this room. Cobb has been very solid in his time with the Giants but he has also sustained a number of injuries in his career. The 36-year old will be a free agent after this season, so the Giants would be wise to try to get something in exchange for him while they still can.

They will probably not be able to get a ton for him because he has not pitched all year and because he has that lengthy injury history. But it does not seem obvious that he would be the better option for the rest of the season between him and Birdsong. Birdsong may very well give the Giants a better chance to win and contend coming down the stretch. Plus, he obviously figures into the team's future plans much more than Cobb.

Trading Cobb will not be easy and will not reap a huge return, but it is a necessary move to ensure that Birdsong can remain in the starting rotation for the foreseeable future.