Former Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin reportedly signs 6-year deal with the Washington Nationals

One of the two major free agents from the Diamondbacks has found a home as former Diamondback Patrick Corbin has reportedly agreed to a 6-year deal to go pitch for the Washington Nationals, as reported by Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post. Corbin was a two-time All-Star (2013, 2018) and overcame Tommy John surgery in 2014 as well as a year where his stuff and command left him in 2016. In 6 ¹⁄₂ seasons, Corbin pitched to a 56-54 record with a 3.91 ERA (109 ERA+) in 945 ²⁄₃ innings. He saved his best season for last, as he pitched to a 3.15 ERA in 200 innings and a 246/48 strikeout to walk ratio in 2018.

According to Jon Heyman, the deal will exceed $140M for those six years. That easily shatters the $50M threshold the Diamondbacks needed to get a likely Top 35 pick in next year’s draft after Corbin declined the qualifying offer last month. In terms of impact on the current major league roster, the team is no longer going to have the services of their top pitcher in 2018. The team will have to find someone who can replace those 200 innings, although the in-house options all likely carry a significant drop-off from Corbin, who provided a 110 ERA+ or better in 4 of the 5 full seasons he pitched. Those in-house options likely include Taylor Clarke, Matt Koch, Jon Duplantier, all of whom are not really appealing options in regards to Opening Day 2019, so the team will have to either swing a trade or make a major free agent signing at the position if they have any dream of contending.