Patrick Corbin ranked as player to be moved at MLB trade deadline
May 30, 2018, 10:18 AM
Arizona Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin throws to an Oakland Athletics batter during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 25, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
With nearly one-third of the MLB season complete and nearly one-third of the teams in the league out of playoff contention, the MLB’s July 31 trade deadline is looming over GMs and big name trade targets.
The Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Patrick Corbin could be one of those big names on the move, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. Nightengale has Corbin ranked as the 11th top trade target.
The Diamondbacks had the finest record in the National League just three weeks ago, before suddenly losing 15 of their last 17 games, and becoming a .500 team. They will wait as long as possible before determining whether they will be sellers of buyers, but with Corbin a free agent, D’backs GM Mike Hazen could become a popular man in July.
Earlier in the season, after winning nine straight series to start the season, it would have been hard to fathom that the D-backs would become sellers as the trade deadline approached.
Since then, the D-backs have gone 9-18 falling from what was once the best record in the National League to what is now the ninth best at 28-26.
Corbin, the D-back’s opening day starter this season, leads the team in wins, strikeouts and innings pitched.
He is the fourth highest paid player on the team with a $7.5 million salary base and set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2018 season, according to Spotrac.
Zack Greinke, Paul Goldschmidt and A.J. Pollock (who is also on an expiring contract) are the three players making more money than the 28-year-old Corbin. Greinke, Goldschmidt and Pollock are all more than 30-years-old.
Nightengale went as far as listing possible landing destinations for the coveted lefty including the Mariners, Cubs and Yankees.
Corbin’s name has been mentioned in rumors dating back to last season. The Yankees were linked to having interest in Corbin during the MLB’s winter meetings last December.
