New York Yankees: Yanks should add Patrick Corbin, move on from J.A. Happ

Free-agent pitcher Patrick Corbin has visited with the New York Yankees. If he signs with the Yankees, then J.A. Happ will no longer be a Yankee.

The New York Yankees met with free agent pitcher Patrick Corbin on Thursday.

Corbin has also visited with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals, according to George A King III of the New York Post.

Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman has said that pitching is the Yankees top priority this offseason.

So far, he has re-signed C.C. Sabathia and acquired James Paxton.

However, he is looking for someone to close out that rotation that now includes Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, Sabathia, and Paxton.

Corbin was a Yankees fan when he was growing up, so he would love to play for the Yankees.

In April, here is what Corbin told Bob Nightengale of USA Today:

"“It would definitely be great to play there [New York]. I grew up a Yankee fan. My whole family are Yankee fans. My mom, my dad, my grandpa, everybody. Really, every generation of my family has been Yankee fans.Living up in Syracuse, everybody’s a Yankee fan. Not too many Mets fans up there.’’"

This year, Corbin went 11-7 with a 3.15 ERA and 246 strikeouts.

Corbin has a career record of 56-54 and a career ERA of 3.91. He would be a great addition to the Yankees, but if he goes to the Yankees, then the Yanks won’t have room for J.A. Happ.

Happ was acquired by the Bronx Bombers in July.

In 11 starts with New York, Happ was 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA.

In 31 starts with the Blue Jays and the Yanks, he was 17-6 with a 3.65 ERA and was an All-Star. Happ has been great for the Yankees and it would be a shame if they lose him.

So should the Yankees sign Corbin?

The answer is yes.

Corbin is one of the best pitchers in the game right now and would give the Yankees an established starter.

Unfortunately for Happ, the Yankees might not be able to re-sign him if they get Corbin, because Corbin could command a contract of more than $100 million, according to Anthony Rieber of Newsday.

Some people believe that Corbin could ask for a $120 million deal.

Here’s what Ken Rosenthal has said about what it would take to sign Corbin, per Mike Rosenstein of NJ.com:

"“Corbin, 29, will not necessarily agree to a six-year contract, particularly if it is loaded with deferrals. He also could accept five years at a higher average annual value from a preferred club. But at six years, his value probably would exceed the largest contract awarded to a free-agent starting pitcher last offseason — six years, $126 million to righty Yu Darvish.”"

The Phillies have money to spend and are trying really hard to get Corbin.

Here’s what Rosenthal said about the Phillies possibly getting Corbin:

"“The Phillies’ front office is not comfortable with long-term deals for starting pitchers, and the potential need to go six years on Corbin would be a measure of how serious they are about landing top talent this winter.Owner John Middleton, though, has said he is willing to get “stupid” in free agency, and even at six years Corbin might command less than half of what the top two position players on the market, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, are expected to be guaranteed.”"

So it seems that the Yankees are the favorite to land Corbin.

If the Yankees do end up with Corbin, then we will be saying bye to J.A. Happ.