Patrick Corbin and the Yankees will meet Thursday, The Post has learned, to discuss whether a deal between a team that is searching for another starter and a lefty pitcher who has been a lifelong Yankees fan can be reached.
The meeting is likely to be at Yankee Stadium so the upstate New York native can see the bells and whistles and what the venue has to offer.
Corbin, who spent the first six years of his career with the Diamondbacks, has faced the Yankees just once in six big-league seasons. It was at the Stadium on April 18, 2013, when Corbin gave up a run, two hits, struck out seven and walked three in a 6-2 Diamondbacks victory that went 12 innings. One of the two hits was a homer by Robinson Cano.
After the Yankees were ousted in four ALDS games by the Red Sox this past postseason, general manager Brian Cashman said upgrading the rotation was a priority. Since then, Cashman brought back CC Sabathia on a one-year deal for $8 million and acquired lefty James Paxton from the Mariners for a package that included left-hander Justus Sheffield, who was considered by some — but not all — to be the Yankees’ top pitching prospect.
Corbin met with the Phillies in Philadelphia on Tuesday. While Corbin has openly talked about someday pitching for the team that was his favorite growing up,
and shouldn’t simply be viewed as a team the 29-year-old Corbin is using to jack up the price for the Yankees.
Corbin also met with the Nationals on Wednesday, The Post confirmed.
Shortly after the Yankees’ season ended, the industry speculation was that Corbin could command a five-year deal for $75 million. That number has increased to $100 million with some believing it might reach $120 million.
Because Corbin isn’t viewed as a No. 1 starter by pitching evaluators despite a nasty slider, that kind of money could lead the Yankees away from him and toward bringing J.A. Happ back to fill out a rotation that includes Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, Sabathia and Paxton.
If a deal can be reached with Corbin, there isn’t likely room for Happ, who was 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts for the Yankees after being acquired from the Blue Jays in late July. Happ, 36, combined for a 17-6 record and 3.65 in 31 starts between the Blue Jays and Yankees, was an All-Star for the first time and earned $13 million.
Corbin’s stock rose this past season when he went 11-7 with a 3.15 ERA in 33 starts, worked 200 innings, fanned 246 thanks to the slider, allowed 162 hits and 48 walks.
After going 14-8 with a 3.41 ERA in 32 starts in 2013, Corbin missed the entire 2014 season due to Tommy John surgery and made 16 starts the following season.
In six seasons, Corbin is 56-54 with a 3.91 ERA in 172 games (154 starts).
