Smyly touts potential Cobb, Cubs coupling

CHICAGO -- Drew Smyly wouldn't mind being reunited with Alex Cobb on the Cubs, and the rehabbing left-hander did a little recruiting on Friday.
Smyly, who signed a two-year deal with the Cubs last month but is not expected to pitch in 2018 after undergoing Tommy John surgery last July, was Cobb's teammate on the Rays. Cobb, who was 12-10 with a 3.66 ERA in 29 starts for Tampa Bay last season, is a free agent, and the Cubs are one of the teams reportedly interested in him.
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"I think any team would be pumped to have Alex Cobb," Smyly said in an interview with MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM. "I would love for him to sign with Chicago. As soon as I became a Ray, he's been one of my better friends. We just hit it off and connected.
"I know he's going through the free-agent process now. Who knows where he'll land? It's a pretty crazy game. I can only imagine how he feels -- I was a little overwhelmed and I was kind of at the bottom of the barrel in the free-agent market, and he can kind of pick and choose where he wants to go and I'm sure a lot of teams are fighting for him. Wherever he lands, he's definitely going to help that team out. I'll be anxious to see where all these pitchers sign in the next coming weeks."
The Cubs have made it no secret that they want to add starting pitching this offseason and have already signed free agent Tyler Chatwood to join Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks and José Quintana. Cobb would be reunited with Joe Maddon and Jim Hickey, who were the right-hander's manager and pitching coach in Tampa Bay, respectively.
As for Smyly, 28, he is hoping to pitch this year.

"I'm definitely going to make it my goal to get back and throw some competitive innings at some point," Smyly said. "Who knows where that will go, but it will definitely put me in position to be healthy all next year and help the Cubs out."
When the lefty signed with Chicago, general manager Jed Hoyer said Smyly was a "real nice piece for us in the future."
"People won't talk about it a lot in 2018," Hoyer said last month. "We'll know he'll be there with us and hopefully in 2019, he'll be a big part of things."
Smyly said he got some advice on what to expect following Tommy John surgery from Cobb and Matt Moore.
"I watched firsthand how they went through the process, and I talk to them on a weekly basis on what to expect, how did they feel, how do I feel," Smyly said. "It's been going real smooth. I have a very positive attitude and look for the future and know if I take care of my rehab every day, better days will be ahead and I'll be healthy again."