Yankees Rumors: Patrick Corbin has a strong second suitor

Though the Yankees have long been considered the top destination for Patrick Corbin, on Tuesday, the 29-year-old free agent met with the Phillies, who have money to burn.

Since late April, when Syracuse-native Patrick Corbin first spoke glowingly about the possibility of pitching in pinstripes, most within baseball circles fully expected the Yankees to sign the top free agent arm on the market.

And while that possibility remains strong, there’s another team on the East Coast that has already made their pitch — the Phillies.

On Tuesday afternoon, Philadelphia hosted Corbin, even going so far as to post his likeness up on the scoreboard, dressed in a Phils uniform.

With Jon Morosi of MLB.com reporting that the club is looking to sign multiple free agents, the Yankees may soon find themselves in the midst of a bidding war for the left-hander, who is coming off a career year (3.15 ERA, 1.050 WHIP and 246:48 K:BB ratio).

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"The Phillies could sign a starting pitcher, closer and an outfielder who costs less than Harper. Sources say the Phillies have interest in starters Patrick Corbin, Nathan Eovaldi and J.A. Happ; closers Craig Kimbrel and Zach Britton; and outfielders Michael Brantley and A.J. Pollock, among other free agents."

Considering the new owner of Phillies, John Middleton, recently said that he is ready to spend big — “maybe even a little bit stupid about it,” the Yanks must decide how much Corbin and his recent 6.3 WAR is worth.

The minimum Corbin will likely command this winter is 5-years, $90 million; however, some outlets report that number could climb to as much as 6-years, $130 million.

On paper, his stuff plays out exceptionally well at Yankee Stadium: 48.9 career groundball rate, only 15 home runs allowed in 2018 and a devastating slider that produced a 53.9 swing and miss rate.

Following a fifth-place finish for the NL Cy Young Award, Corbin fits the needs of both the Yanks and Phils. He’d likely be a No. 2 on both clubs — allowing him to pitch freer than if he were the staff ace of say, the Angels or Braves.

Despite the pressures that are associated with playing in New York, being sandwiched between Luis Severino and either Masahiro Tanaka or James Paxton should allow Corbin to flourish.

While it remains to be seen if Corbin is set on waiting until the General Managers Meetings to sign in grand fashion, should general manager Brian Cashman get Corbin to the Bronx before Dec. 9, the Yanks shouldn’t let him leave without a contract in hand.

Now five years removed from Tommy John surgery, if Corbin were to duplicate his numbers from 2018, he’d be the most productive pitcher on the Yankee staff.