Yankees pass up on Patrick Corbin and for good reason

Patrick Corbin was at the top of the Yankees free agent shortlist this offseason, but the Yanks held onto their checkbooks, allowing Corbin to sign with another the Nationals — and that’s all right.

Pending a physical, the deal Patrick Corbin will sign with the Washington Nationals is for six-years, $140 million. Surprisingly, the Yankees came up short with their max offer of five-years, $100 million offer, something they considered to be worthy of Corbin’s talent and track record.

Corbin is a good pitcher, but is he worth $23.3 million per year? Coming off the best season of his career, Corbin was pitching for a payday in 2018. Just three seasons ago, Corbin’s ERA sat at 5.15, a WHIP above 1.5 and only struck out 131 in 155.1 innings.

He wasn’t anything to write home about in 2017 either, not with an ERA above four, 26 home runs allowed in just under 190 innings and a 1.418 WHIP.

Yes, the left-hander had a great 2018, but it was his only campaign of that caliber and he’s no spring chicken. So either Corbin is a late bloomer due to Tommy John surgery in 2014 — or last season was a shot in the dark.

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Do we really think a guy that just had his first great season at age 29 is going to be pitching at that level six years form now?

This is why Brian Cashman gets a pat on the back. Passing up on Corbin is a tough but smart decision.

Now the Yanks can say they did their best in pursuit of Corbin and move on with their heads held high. So what’s next?

Looking at the free agent landscape, two former Yankees top of the list. J.A. Happ and Nathan Eovaldi have both been mentioned by the Yanks as targets.

These are two guys that might sign under the radar deals and become impact players on a good team, but neither of these starters is top of the rotation types.

Other options include Dallas Keuchel and Charlie Morton, but neither is particularly young and exciting — meaning the Yanks may relocate their intentions towards the trade market.

There’s a boatload of potentially available starters that the Yankees could trade for; however, names like Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer and Madison Bumgarner won’t come cheap.

The Cleveland Indians have made it known that they’re open to moving at least one starting pitcher. With Kluber and Carlos Carrasco previously linked to the Yankees, either would vastly improve the Yankee rotation; much more than overpaying for Corbin would have.

Otherwise, the Yanks will have to shop around a bit, hopefully using the displaced Sonny Gray and Greg Bird as trade bait. Perhaps Hal Steinbrenner will give Brian Cashman the green light to allocate a substantial amount of salary for the much-needed left-handed bat of Bryce Harper.

Patience is key to building a dynasty, but sometimes the trigger needs to be pulled. Look for the Yankees to make at least one more move for a starting pitcher during the Winter Meetings.