Philadelphia Phillies showing interest in Patrick Corbin
The Philadelphia Phillies are preparing for a return to prominence in the NL East.
The Philadelphia Phillies have money and are reportedly ready to spend large sums to chase a winner. One prominent pitcher to keep an eye on during this offseason is Patrick Corbin. With Philly having championship aspirations, it stands to reason that Corbin will be at the top of their wish list.
The last time that the Phillies finished a season above .500 was following the 2011 season. Not coincidentally, that is also the last time this franchise made a playoff appearance. However, Philadelphia showed they’re ready to contend while winning 80 games during the 2018 season.
The Phillies were a surprise contender during much of last season until fading down the stretch in September. Now, they’re reportedly talking with Corbin about a possible role with the team during the 2019 season.
Corbin is one of the biggest names available on the free agent market right now and the Philadelphia Phillies have money to burn. While there remains a chance the team could sign one or both of Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, Corbin is the player that will help this team the most during next season.
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The left-hander finished the 2018 season with a 3.55 earned run average while making a career-best 33 starts for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He went 11-7 while pitching exactly 200 innings and finished with 246 strikeouts with just 48 walks allowed and a very solid 1.050 WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched).
The 28-year-old has been as good as any pitcher in baseball and improved every season over the previous three seasons. He finished the 2018 season with a career-best 11.1 K/9 while lowering his H/9 to a tremendous 7.3. Although Corbin missed the entire 2014 season, he has been a dominant force since his return during the 2015 season.
Next. Could Philadelphia end up with both Harper and Trout?. dark
Corbin is hands down the top available pitcher available this offseason and Philly will have competition for his services. However, Philadelphia has shown a commitment to winning consistently during the past and has one of the most rabid fanbases in all of baseball. Partnering Corbin with Aaron Nola at the top of the rotation would make Philly an instant favorite to win the NL East next season.