Yankees Rumors: Is Patrick Corbin worth a $100 million contract?

Free agent ace Patrick Corbin has been predicted by many to sign with the Yankees this offseason. However, Corbin won’t come cheap and he’ll likely sign a contract for $100 million or more. The Yankees need to upgrade their starting rotation, but is Corbin worth it at that price tag?

Before the offseason is over and done with the Yankees need to add another elite starting pitcher (or two) to their rotation. It’s their biggest need and the expectation is that GM Brian Cashman will do everything he can to make that happen.

To get an ace type arm like Corbin it should be pretty simple for the Yanks as long as they’re willing to meet his contract demands. Jon Heyman of Fancred is one of the best baseball writers out there and he predicted that Corbin will likely get a contract from someone for 5 years at $100 million. For that price, I don’t think there’s any doubt that Corbin would be worth it for the Yanks.

However, what if he asks for a six-year at a $20 million salary for a total of $120 million? Considering all the teams that are expected to heavily pursue Corbin in the coming days and weeks I wouldn’t be shocked at all if there are clubs desperate enough to give him that sixth year. In fact, I wouldn’t be shocked if that team was the Yankees.

The Yankees may not be as desperate as some of the lesser teams looking for an upgrade to their starting rotations but they know that a guy like Corbin could put them over the top in 2019. In year’s past, I’d be hesitant to give a 29-year-old who’s already had Tommy John a six-year deal at that price tag, but it’s not my money and the Yankees know they have to make a big splash.

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As Brian Cashman said on Wednesday in an interview with WFAN’s Boomer and Gio he has to get TWO more starters, preferably two that are elite. Since it’s highly unlikely that he adds both via trade you have to think that one of them is going to be Corbin via free agency. If Corbin somehow ended up signing elsewhere it could be a move to resign J.A Happ but that wouldn’t provide much of an upgrade compared to last year’s club.

That’s exactly why the Yankees must do whatever it takes to sign Corbin. Now that the team is finally under the luxury tax threshold there’s no excuse not to spend big on the best starter on the free agent market.

Sure it would be nice to acquire a guy like Corey Kluber or James Paxton but that would mean giving up multiple big-time prospects and a cornerstone of the franchise like Miguel Andujar. The only thing you’re losing in free agency is money, not big pieces of your future which is why aggressively pursuing both Corbin and Happ makes much more sense.

In conclusion, if it takes six years and $120 million to get Corbin you do it because what matters most is next year. And with him in their rotation, the Yankees would have as good a shot as anyone to contend for a title.

Even if Corbin ends up struggling and fades out of his prime during the second half of the six-year commitment you deal with it because if he can help you win a championship in 2019 it will be all worth it.