Yankees News: Patrick Corbin Explains Why He Picked The Washington Nationals Over New York

When the 2018 MLB offseason began, the New York Yankees were considered to be the favorites to land Patrick Corbin. It felt like the perfect fit between the team that prioritized improving their rotation and the top starting pitcher on the market.

Corbin, 29, comes from Clay, New York and a family of Yankees’ fans. His brother even took out a Yankees’ hat during a speech at Corbin’s wedding last month.

But none of that mattered when the Washington Nationals offered Corbin a six-year, $140 million contract. Corbin ultimately chose Washington over the Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies, with whom he met last week.

“It was my brother who gave a toast, and he’s actually enjoying everyone talking about him right now,” Corbin told Chris Russo on MLB Network’s “High Heat” Friday afternoon when asked about signing with the Nationals over the Yankees. “Growing up in upstate New York there was a lot of Yankees’ fans.”

“This offseason, I was fortunate to have a couple great cities that were looking at me, and a place that I could spend the next six years of my life and a ballclub that makes sense for me. I just felt like Washington was that place for myself, for my wife. Really looked at the rotation here and thought joining them would help out, as well and being able to live here for six years.”

The Yankees weren’t willing to give the New York native a six-year commitment. According to YES Network’s Jack Curry, the Yankees told Corbin they would be comfortable giving him a four or five-year deal worth somewhere between $17 million and $20 million per year. New York decided not to make an offer when Corbin said he was seeking a deal comparable to the six-year, $126 million contract Yu Darvish got from the Chicago Cubs last season.

Corbin finished fifth in the 2018 NL Cy Young race. He posted a 3.15 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP with 246 strikeouts in 200 innings. Corbin made the All-Star team for the first time since 2013.