The first domino in the pitching free agent market has fallen, and now it’s time for many other pieces to fall into place.
The Washington Nationals landed Patrick Corbin with a 6-year, $140 million deal, outbidding the Philadelphia Phillies and going an extra year compared to the New York Yankees.
Though the Yankees reportedly were unwilling to go beyond five years for Corbin, they’re still looking for some pitching help and are now going to focus on Nathan Eovaldi and JA Happ, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.
#Yankees shifting focus to Nathan Eovaldi and J.A. Happ, sources say, now that Patrick Corbin has agreed to a contract with #Nationals. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 4, 2018
Happ and Eovaldi both began the 2018 season with one AL East team and finished it with another contender in the division. Eovaldi made 10 starts for the Rays before being acquired by the Red Sox. He had a 3.81 ERA in 111 innings and impressed during Boston’s postseason run. He went 2-1 with two holds and a 1.61 ERA over 22.1 innings in the playoffs. The 28-year-old missed all of 2017 due to Tommy John surgery.
Happ, 36, went 10-6 in 114 innings with Toronto last season. He went 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 63.2 innings after being acquired by the Yankees in a trade. The southpaw got lit up in his lone postseason start against Boston.
In addition to the Yankees, another AL team is said to have interest in both pitchers.
