Veteran left-hander Patrick Corbin, who signed a one-year cope with the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, has skilled immense highs and excruciating lows throughout his 12-year profession within the majors.
A two-time All-Star and a World Sequence champion, Corbin boasted the most effective curveballs within the majors throughout his peak. From 2013, his first All-Star season, to his World Sequence-winning 2019 marketing campaign with the Nationals, Corbin fanned the ninth-most batters amongst all left-handed pitchers (minimal 150 begins). His 3.72 ERA over that span was the Tenth-best amongst southpaw starters.
Since his age-30 season in 2020, nevertheless, the two-time All-Star pitcher has spiraled downward. After posting a 4.66 ERA in 2020, Corbin has didn’t publish a sub-5.00 ERA prior to now 4 seasons. Plus, he has recorded double-digit losses in each season since 2021.
Texas is betting on Corbin to nearer resemble his pre-2020 kind. Regardless of a tough exhibiting the previous few seasons, Corbin might have sufficient life in his arm to solidify the backend of the Rangers’ rotation.
Plus, with starters Jon Grey (wrist fracture) and Cody Bradford (elbow soreness) sidelined with damage, the Rangers are hoping Corbin can fill the void and supply high quality innings.
“Clearly, within the final week, circumstances have modified internally with our beginning pitching and the depth,” mentioned president of baseball operations Chris Younger (h/t Rangers broadcast Jared Sander). “We felt like signing Patrick Corbin was a possibility to usher in anyone who has actually been an inning stabilizer over the previous 10-plus years. He’s a veteran participant, a competitor, by all accounts and only a successful character. He’s anyone who’s going to slot in our clubhouse nicely and provides us added safety.”
Although effectivity has eluded him the previous few seasons, Corbin has nonetheless proved to be an innings eater. He has made 30 or extra begins in each full MLB season since 2017 and tossed 174 2/3 innings for the Nationals final season.
“There isn’t any doubt this can be a participant who has an amazing monitor file of well being, taking the ball and posting,” Younger mentioned (h/t MLB.com). “The innings matter to us. I believe our group’s inbuilt a approach to shield our beginning pitching with an offense that is going to attain some runs. We performed excellent protection. I believe Patrick will profit from that as nicely. He definitely suits a necessity that we’ve at this second. I do not see any cause why he cannot contribute all season lengthy, if he pitches like he did, actually the second half of final yr.”
Whereas signings this late into spring coaching do not sometimes quantity to a lot, Corbin may pan out as a low-risk, high-reward signing for Texas. He is not more likely to regain his All-Star kind, however it could be an enormous enhance for the group if he can at the least be serviceable within the backend of the rotation.
