White Sox Miss Out on Starting Pitcher Target Patrick Corbin
White Sox miss out on one of their targets for this offseason as the right-handed pitcher takes a six-year contract with the Washington Nationals.
The White Sox were reportedly interested in then-free agent starting pitcher Patrick Corbin at the start of this offseason. On Tuesday, it was announced that Corbin agreed to sign a six-year contract with the Washington Nationals.
Corbin’s contract with the Nationals will reportedly be worth $140 million. The news of Corbin signing with the Nationals leaves the Sox with one less free agent starting pitcher to target. With the Sox needing a veteran starting pitcher for 2019, they will have to look elsewhere after Corbin agreed to join Washington.
Although Corbin won’t be pitching for the Sox next season, the franchise can still target other free agent starting pitchers this offseason. There are a number of starting pitchers available for the Sox to sign to help improve their starting rotation.
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The Sox likely made a good decision in not getting in a bidding war for Corbin. Entering this offseason, the Sox have payroll flexibility and can add some quality free agents to the team. But Corbin has missed time in the past due to needing Tommy John surgery. He missed all of the 2014 season and some of the 2015 season.
After two lackluster seasons in 2016 and 2017, Corbin finally rebounded this past season to go 11-7 with a 3.15 ERA for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Surely the Sox need a starting pitcher that can pitch 200 innings as Corbin did in 2018. But Corbin hasn’t pitched 200 or more innings in consecutive seasons in his career. The Sox need a consistently reliable starting pitcher for next season.
Dallas Keuchel could be a solid option for the Sox to sign. He has a wealth of postseason experience to go along with winning the Cy Young award in the American League in 2015 and being a four-time Gold Glove award winner. The Sox could likely sign Keuchel for lower than what the Nationals will give to Corbin.
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Other starting pitcher options for the Sox include Nathan Eovaldi and J.A. Happ. The Sox might have missed out on one of their targets for the offseason but its still early and they have time to go after other players. The Winter Meetings will begin on Sunday and the Sox should be one of the more aggressive teams attempting to improve their ballclub for the future.