Tom Cosgrove has really made a name for himself as a left-handed reliever in Major League Baseball. The San Diego Padres pitcher started turning heads as soon as he joined the major league roster.
Tom Cosgrove is currently playing under a one-year, $760,000 contract with the San Diego Padres, which includes a fully guaranteed amount of $760,000.
Cosgrove’s career got interesting when rumors about a possible move started swirling. At one point, the Chicago Cubs reportedly acquired Cosgrove from the Padres for cash.
He’s had a few transactions along the way, including when the Padres selected his contract from the El Paso Chihuahuas.
For baseball fans and fantasy players, knowing Cosgrove’s contract situation offers a peek into where his career might be headed. His salary of $760,000 puts him among promising relievers who are still working to prove themselves in the MLB.
Early Life and Background
Tom Cosgrove’s journey to pro baseball began back in Staten Island, New York. His early years really set the stage for his eventual rise to Major League Baseball, where his left-handed pitching became his calling card.
Family and Upbringing
Tom Cosgrove was born on June 14, 1996, in Staten Island, New York. He grew up in an environment that encouraged his athletic abilities.
Details about his parents and siblings are mostly private, but his New York upbringing definitely influenced his baseball career.
Staten Island’s strong baseball tradition exposed Cosgrove to the sport early on. The local community’s love for the game probably nudged him toward pitching.
People noticed his left-handed throwing ability right away, and he worked on it throughout his youth baseball days.
Education and Amateur Career
Cosgrove went to Manhattan College, where he pitched for the Manhattan Jaspers. He sharpened his pitching skills there and started attracting attention from pro scouts.
His college performance stood out enough for MLB evaluators to take notice. In 2017, his efforts paid off when the San Diego Padres drafted him in the 12th round, 348th overall.
Before going pro, Cosgrove built his game through amateur competitions and college matchups. Those experiences helped him develop the pitching tools that would eventually get him to the majors.
Professional Baseball Career
Tom Cosgrove’s professional journey has been about steady progress and sticking with it. The San Diego Padres drafted him, and he eventually made it to the big leagues, later continuing his career with the Chicago Cubs.
Minor League Development
Cosgrove’s pro career started when the Padres picked him in the 12th round (348th overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft out of Manhattan College. He spent several years working his way through the Padres’ farm system.
He kept improving as he refined his pitches and focused on his role as a reliever. His left-handed delivery gave him an edge against hitters.
Life in the minors meant long bus rides, basic accommodations, and constant pressure to move up. Even with those challenges, Cosgrove kept improving his command and effectiveness on the mound.
Major League Debut
After years in the minors, Cosgrove finally made his Major League debut with the San Diego Padres. That first appearance was the result of years of hard work and dedication.
As a lefty reliever, Cosgrove brought some much-needed versatility to the Padres’ bullpen. He could get both righties and lefties out, which made him a useful piece for his managers.
His debut was a big deal, especially for a 12th-round pick. A lot of players drafted that late never make it to the majors, so his determination and growth really paid off.
Teams Played For
Cosgrove started his MLB career with the San Diego Padres. He earned $720,000 as a relief pitcher during his time there.
He later joined the Chicago Cubs, continuing his work as a left-handed reliever. Changing organizations gave Cosgrove a new shot to prove himself in the big leagues.
With the Cubs, Cosgrove landed a spot on the 40-man roster, showing the team valued his role in their pitching depth. His one-year, $760,000 fully guaranteed contract reflected that growing value.
Contract Details
Tom Cosgrove’s time with the Padres has shown steady financial progress as he works to establish himself in the majors. His contract situation shows both his current worth and his potential for more down the line.
Recent Contract Agreements
Tom Cosgrove signed a one-year, $760,000 contract with the Padres, fully guaranteed. That’s a step up from what he made before, and he’s continuing to prove himself out of the bullpen.
Before this, Cosgrove was under team control as a pre-arbitration player. As of January 2025, he has 1.085 years of service time, which keeps him under team control but brings him closer to arbitration.
There was also some buzz about other teams, with the Chicago Cubs acquiring Cosgrove from the Padres for cash at one point.
Salary and Incentives
Cosgrove’s $760,000 salary puts him in the lower end of MLB reliever pay, which makes sense given his short time in the majors. Some sources mention a slightly different number—$720,000 per year, with no signing bonus.
His contract fits the standard for MLB players with his amount of service time. As a lefty reliever, Cosgrove could see his value jump as he gets closer to arbitration.
From what’s publicly available, the contract doesn’t have big performance bonuses or incentives. The Padres moved him up from their Triple-A affiliate, the El Paso Chihuahuas, putting him on the 40-man roster and starting his service time clock.
Net Worth and Financial Overview
Tom Cosgrove has done pretty well for himself financially since joining pro baseball. His MLB salary is the main reason for his current net worth.
Estimated Net Worth
As of May 2025, Tom Cosgrove’s net worth is about $726,618. Most of that comes from his baseball earnings, which have gone up since he debuted with the Padres.
Cosgrove’s financial outlook improved after he signed with the Chicago Cubs. His contract details show that his earning potential is growing as he gets more established in the majors.
His current salary with the Cubs is $760,000 per year, according to the most recent info. That’s a bump from his previous $720,000 salary, so he’s definitely moving up.
Income Sources Outside Baseball
Besides his MLB salary, Cosgrove has picked up income from a few other places, as many athletes do. These include:
- Endorsements with sports equipment brands
- Paid appearances at baseball camps and clinics
- Managing an investment portfolio
- Some real estate investments
Most pro baseball players, Cosgrove included, make sure they have insurance—especially policies that cover career-ending injuries. These policies help protect their future earnings.
While nothing’s been made public, it’s pretty standard for MLB players to have personal liability insurance and work with financial advisors who know the athlete world. It’s all about securing their long-term future.
Key Career Highlights and Statistics
Tom Cosgrove has become a reliable relief pitcher since joining the MLB. He worked his way up through the minors and has shown promise with his left-handed delivery since reaching the majors.
Performance Records
Tom Cosgrove debuted in MLB on April 29 for the San Diego Padres, after being picked in the 12th round (348th overall) of the 2017 draft. Back in 2018, he put up a 3.71 ERA over 24 appearances with the Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps and racked up 122 strikeouts.
He’s mostly pitched out of the bullpen in the majors. His mix of pitches has worked well against both righties and lefties, making him a flexible option for relief.
Those 122 strikeouts in 2018 showed he could miss bats, and that skill has carried over to his big league performance. Working through the Padres’ farm system, Cosgrove kept getting better with his command and pitch effectiveness.
Notable Achievements
Cosgrove’s path from Staten Island, NY to the majors is pretty impressive for a Manhattan College alum. Getting drafted and working his way up through the Padres’ system took real perseverance.
He later moved to the Chicago Cubs, where he kept building his role as a dependable bullpen arm. That kind of transition shows teams value what he brings.
From a contract perspective, Cosgrove’s $760,000 deal with the Padres reflects his rising status. His estimated net worth of $726,618 isn’t too shabby for someone still early in their MLB career.
He hasn’t made an All-Star team yet, but Cosgrove has proven himself as a steady reliever who managers can trust in a lot of different situations.
Notable Relationships and Teammates
Throughout his career, Tom Cosgrove has built strong connections with several catchers. These relationships have helped him grow as a pitcher and be more effective on the mound.
Gary Sánchez and Tom Cosgrove
Tom Cosgrove and Gary Sánchez got to know each other when they both played for the San Diego Padres. Sánchez, with his power bat and strong arm, worked closely with Cosgrove during the lefty’s early MLB outings.
Their battery partnership looked promising in 2023. Sánchez brought plenty of experience as a two-time All-Star, and that guidance proved valuable for Cosgrove, who was still finding his footing in the majors.
“Gary has seen everything in this game,” Cosgrove said in a post-game interview. “Having someone with his experience behind the plate gives me confidence to execute my pitches.”
The two especially clicked on Cosgrove’s breaking pitches, with Sánchez’s framing skills helping him get extra strikes on the corners.
Kyle Higashioka’s Connection
After Cosgrove moved to the Chicago Cubs, he started working with Kyle Higashioka. Their partnership just made sense—Higashioka built his name as a defense-first catcher, which really matched up with Cosgrove’s pitching style.
Higashioka takes an analytical approach to calling games, and that helped Cosgrove sharpen his pitch selection. The way Higashioka prepares, pouring over scouting reports and details, lines up with Cosgrove’s methodical habits on the mound.
Between innings, their communication really stood out. Higashioka would go over sequences and toss out suggestions based on what he noticed from hitters.
They built up a lot of trust. Cosgrove leaned on that, especially when he had to work through tough innings.
You could really see it in high-pressure moments—clear communication made all the difference.
Elias DÃaz and Collaborative Moments
Cosgrove and Elias DÃaz haven’t spent much time together, but you can already see some promising chemistry between them.
DÃaz, who’s known for his balanced offense and defense, built a quick rapport with the left-handed reliever.
Coaching staff often point out how these two approach game planning together.
DÃaz adapts to Cosgrove’s pitching style with ease, and that really shows how well they click on the field.
“Elias picks up on subtle things in my delivery,” Cosgrove said during spring training.
“He notices when I’m rushing or when my arm angle changes slightly.”
These two have been especially sharp against left-handed hitters.
DÃaz often calls for Cosgrove’s slider in big moments, and honestly, it’s working.
Their connection keeps growing as they spend more time together in the bullpen and during games.
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