Report: Orioles pick up Jones in deal for Cobb

A former Top-100 prospect will be part of the Orioles' ongoing rebuild.

No. 7 Angels prospect Jahmai Jones is headed to Baltimore as the return for right-hander Alex Cobb, according to a report by The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya and Ken Rosenthal. The O's are also expected to send money to Los Angeles to cover part of the $15 million owed to Cobb next season.

Jones was a second-round pick of the Halos back in 2015 when he was coming out of a Georgia high school. The second baseman was ranked as the No. 93 overall prospect prior to the 2018 season but had dropped off from that status in recent years due to questions about his bat. Jones still made his Major League debut in the shortened 2020 campaign and featured in three games, going 3-for-7 (.429) with two runs scored.

Despite last hitting .234 with a .631 OPS at Double-A Mobile in 2019, the 23-year-old right-handed slugger showed promising offensive growth at the alternate site last season and could be prepared to show more pop at the top level with Baltimore. Jones has the potential to be an average hitter with plus speed if he continues those improvements. He also brings the added bonus of versatility, having played second and all three outfield spots at times in his Minor League career.

Jones should be in competition for the second-base gig this spring alongside Yolmer Sánchez, Richie Martin, Ramón Urías and others but could settle into a utility role off the bench, if he doesn't win the keystone job outright.

Cobb heads to a Los Angeles squad in need of starting pitching help if it is to catch up to the Astros and A's in the AL West. The 33-year-old right-hander enjoyed a return to form in 2020 in which he posted a 4.30 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with 38 strikeouts over 52 1/3 innings. He was one of only two Orioles to make double-digit starts (alongside John Means) and owned the highest fWAR at 0.6 among Baltimore hurlers with at least 30 innings pitched. Cobb is set to become a free agent next offseason.