Free agent starter Patrick Corbin dropped by the Bronx on Thursday, and the New York Yankees pitched him hard.
The New York Yankees have made it clear that all they want for Christmas is pitching—more specifically, Patrick Corbin.
After stacking up great numbers in 2018, Corbin is the top free agent pitcher on the market this offseason. The 29-year-old southpaw finished fifth in Cy Young voting, posting an 11-7 record and a 3.15 ERA in 200 innings.
Corbin struck out a career-high 246 batters, and his 1.05 WHIP was good for fourth in the National League, behind only Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, and Aaron Nola.
These are just a few reasons the Yankees want Corbin on their staff. According to Wallace Matthews at the Daily News, a source close to the situation said the meeting was a success.
“I understand it went very well,” the source told Matthews. The statement is light on details, but it’s still positive news for Yankees fans who favor a Corbin signing.
Once detail of the meeting did escape. The Bombers put a picture of Corbin in pinstripes on the video scoreboard, with a note for him and his wife Jen.
MLB Roundup pointed out on Twitter that the Phillies used a similar gimmick when the Corbins rolled through Philly, but they forgot to include his wife.
Focusing on family is a good move for the Yankees, because Corbin’s family is from upstate New York. He played high school and college baseball in the Syracuse area.
If the Bombers can add Corbin, they’ll have three lefties in the rotation. CC Sabathia and recent pickup James Paxton are the other two.
This lefty-heavy strategy is likely by design, as the Yankees seek to limit damage opposing lefties do to the short porch in right field.
Bringing Corbin home to the Empire State could be exactly what the Yankees need. Or, he might be just another lefty for right-handed batters Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez to tee off against.