Free agent starting pitcher Patrick Corbin has agreed to a 6 year/$140 million deal with the Washington Nationals. This move adds Corbin to a rotation that already has Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, creating one of the strongest starting rotations in the majors. However, in my honest opinion, Washington definitely overpaid for the former D’Backs starter.
Regardless of my being a Mets fan, I do see the signing of Corbin as a good signing for the Nats. He is a productive starter to have in the middle of your rotation to go along with Scherzer and Strasburg. After these two, Washington has Tanner Roark and Erick Fedde, two more right handers. To throw the lefty Corbin the in middle of this rotation was a necessity, but in no way do I think he is worth the money that the Nats offered him.
Don’t get me wrong, Corbin had an amazing 2018. The 29 year old made 33 starts and finished the year with a 3.15 ERA, 246 strikeouts, 1.050 WHIP, a 137 ERA+ and a K/9 of 11.1 in 200 innings. It was easily his best year in his 7 year career. I was great and very convenient for him to have this career year in his walk year, but I just can’t see how Washington felt he was worth this money. The years, I understand. At the end of a 6 year deal puts Corbin at 35 so you’re getting him the the prime of his career in which you hope he stays consistent with his 2018 numbers but a potential AAV (average annual value) of $23.3 million seems a bit steep. Prior to 2018, Corbin’s best year was 2013, his age 23 season. That year, he posted a 3.41 ERA with 178 strikeouts, and a 1.166 WHIP in 208.1 innings. This was also the only other year, aside from 2018, where he eclipsed 200 innings. He underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire 2014 season which is understandable with his reduced numbers in 2015. 2016 and 2017, his ERA stood at 5.15 and 4.03 in 155.2 and 189.2 innings, respectively.
I don’t know. Just to me, Corbin is a solid, productive, middle of the rotation starter. His strong 2013 and even stronger 2018, just 2 of his 7 seasons in the majors, doesn’t constitute a $140 million contract. I understand he had a handful of suitors in the Nats, Phillies and Yankees. The Nats most likely had to offer this deal in order to lock him down and they needed that lefty to compliment Scherzer and Strasburg, but I don’t think it’s so far-fetched to say that they paid well above the price tag. It works out for Corbin though. He capitalized on his best statistical season to get this offer, as well as being the top starting pitcher on the free agent market this offseason. Congrats to him.
I, like many others I’m sure, had Corbin going to the Yankees for somewhere in the 5yr/$100-$120 million range. According to some reports, this is what the Yankees offered him. I honestly didn’t think the Yankees needed to offer such a high number and could have potentially gotten Corbin on somewhat of a discount. He is a New York guy. He grew up a Yankees fan idolizing Andy Pettitte. He wears the number 46 to honor him. He becomes a free agent the year the Yanks desperately need starting pitching. It was a perfect match. Now, the Yankees will have to look towards guys like JA Happ, Nathan Eovaldi or others to help round out their rotation. Good for them though because whoever it is they go after now will cost significantly less for less years and will probably give you similar numbers to Corbin’s career average.
Now we wonder if this signing takes Washington out of a possible reunion with free agent superstar Bryce Harper. We all know Harper and his super-agent Scott Boras have an asking price of roughly 10 years for around $300-$350 million or more. Only a handful of teams are seen as possible landing spots for Harper at these figures, including the Nats. With this Corbin signing, does this take them out of the running? Well, the Winter Meetings begin this Sunday in Las Vegas, which so happens to be Bryce’s hometown. We all know he likes the spotlight and his flair for the dramatic. Seems like the ideal time to announce a signing. I’m looking forward to it.
