The Chicago Cubs and Alex Cobb share mutual interest in a relationship as the right-hander enters free agency.

Cobb pitched under Joe Maddon and Jim Hickey with the Tampa Bay Rays. Maddon manages the Cubs and Hickey joined Chicago as pitching coach earlier this month.

The Cubs reached out to Cobb and had preliminary discussions with his agent, Danny Horwits, recently.

The Rays issued Cobb a one-year, $17.4 million qualifying offer.