Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Veteran left-hander Patrick Corbin is coming off his best season since 2019, and he will now be searching for a new home. Corbin spent this past season with the Texas Rangers following a very uneventful multi-year stint with the Washington Nationals.
In 31 games played (30 starts) for the Rangers, Corbin posted an ERA of 4.40, while striking out 131 batters over 155.1 innings of work. This was the lowest ERA for Corbin in years, and there were moments when he looked like his old dominant self.
Back in 2018, Corbin was viewed as one of the better pitchers in baseball. But it has been pretty much all downhill for the veteran left-hander, and he is now entering free agency again.
However, this time, his market may be very limited, considering the struggles that he has seen over the past few years. But there could be a team that takes a flyer on him, even if it’s just an invite to Spring Training.
All it takes is one team across the league to take a chance on the 36-year-old, and his performance this year could help things. Something seemed to work with Corbin this season, even if his numbers were still a little high.
The veteran could slot in as a backend starter for a team, or even a long bullpen option. But how his market will shape out remains to be seen at this time.
This is just a prediction, NOT a report!
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Patrick Corbin Returns to the Arizona Diamondbacks
One team that could look to take a chance on Corbin could be his old squad, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Arizona enters the offseason with a lot of questions around its starting rotation, and the veteran left-hander could give them some needed depth.
Corbin made the All-Star team twice while with the Diamondbacks, and he may welcome a return to Arizona. While he isn’t the same player that he once was, he could at least give this team a nice inning-eater for the regular season.
The Diamondbacks need multiple pitchers to help build out the rotation, and Corbin could give them a reliable arm. Even if he doesn’t turn back the clock fully, he found success this year, and Arizona could look to build upon that.
This franchise has done well with pitchers in years past, and Corbin could be next in line. The veteran may as well return home, if the Diamondbacks would allow it, and he could try to help them get back to the postseason.
Corbin wouldn’t cost a lot to sign in all likelihood, which could make things easier for the Diamondbacks to land him. Overall, Arizona could be a solid landing spot for the veteran to continue his baseball career.