The Patrick Corbin “Nugget” You May Have Missed

If you don’t know what a “nugget” is, and I didn’t either until I started reading and conversing with my friend Robert Casey of Bleeding Yankee Blue, a nugget is a small piece of information that is usually or possibly overlooked by many writers and journalists. Without getting too far off topic and off base I will say that today’s journalism, or lack thereof, is the reason I got into blogging and writing professionally. It doesn’t matter to many if it’s right, accurate or well thought out as long as it’s released first. Why? Views, clicks, and money. I have no issue with people making their money and earning their paychecks, I just chose to do things differently and that’s ok. I have never had ads and money-making schemes on my site and I will vow to keep it that way. With that said, as I digress, let’s get back to this nugget that isn’t being talked about in many places that I’ve seen. The nugget has to do with the Arizona Diamondbacks and left-handed pitcher Patrick Corbin.

The Yankees have been linked to Corbin this offseason and while talks between the two clubs never seemingly went very far I truly believe that is because of the market and not because the two teams weren’t a great match in a trade. Reading an article by Steve Gilbert on MLB.com who conducted an interview with Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen the subject of potentially trading either Corbin or Zack Greinke came up which immediately interested me. While I am not interested in Greinke and his bulky salary I think Corbin would be a great fit in the Bronx, even with his projected $8.3 million in arbitration salary according to MLB Trade Rumors.

In the article and interview Gilbert states that the Diamondbacks are looking for a potential long-term option at the catcher position and outfield depth in any trade for Corbin, Greinke and any pieces that could potentially go with those two quality pitchers. It seems to me that the Yankees have both and are in a position of power to trade from both, especially considering that Corbin has one-year of team control thus seemingly keeping his cost down a bit.

In my opinion the Yankees could acquire Corbin and still hold onto Clint Frazier. Including Austin Romine or Kyle Higashioka along with a Jake Cave or Billy McKinney plus a lower-level pitching prospect or two could probably get Corbin alone. If the Yankees also wanted to try and pry away Brandon Drury in the deal then Frazier could be included to sweeten the deal, although I have made it very clear my preference is to hold onto Frazier this offseason. Maybe that’s the fan in me speaking but maybe it is also someone who has watched baseball for over 20 years speaking as well. I have especially paid attention to the rise and fall, the triumphs and the fails, of various prospects coming through the Yankees system and I really just think Frazier has all the makings of being something special.

I think the fact that we haven’t seen much movement in the Corbin sweepstakes is not because the Yankees aren’t willing to part with the pieces needed to acquire the lefty or because the Diamondbacks don’t want to trade him, I just think everyone is reluctant to make that move with pitchers like Jake Arrieta and Yu Darvish still on the market. Once these pieces start to move I think Corbin will ultimately be dealt, Cashman is just lying in the weeds waiting for his time to strike. There’s more coming Yankees family and New York’s GM isn’t done. Now is just the time for patience, as hard as that is for some of us to do. Stay warm, be patient and Go Yankees!!

Oh, and I know. My trade proposal sucks. Leave your “better” one in the comments section. 

Oh, and I know I said I didn't think the Yankees needed another pitcher in a previous post. I stand by that and I still don't think the Yankees NEED another starter. It seems though, if you believe all the rumors you read, that Brian Cashman thinks otherwise hence the idea and trade proposal for Corbin. I'd be just as happy heading into Spring Training camp with what the team already has, although I would never pass up an opportunity to Get Greedy either.

Get Greedy, Get Corbin. 

The Miami Marlins and Quite the Opposite of “Getting Greedy”

photo credit to the Miami Herald

Blame the slow offseason and hot stove market but yeah, I am going to talk about the Miami Marlins this morning. Any baseball talk is better than nothing at this point, at least I am hoping so, especially when we can throw in a Derek Jeter reference or two while we are at it. The reason I want to talk about the Marlins this morning is not because of the Giancarlo Stanton trade that brought the reigning National League MVP to the Bronx, or another trade for that matter, but is because Mr. Jeter is letting me down right now if I am being completely honest. Derek Sanderson Jeter is not “Getting Greedy” but is, in fact, doing quite the opposite of that.

Now I am being a bit sarcastic in the first paragraph and in the title of this post admittedly, but I do want to talk about the projected payroll of the Marlins going forward and the basic “promise” that the team would turn a profit here in 2018. How can Jeter make such a statement after trading or attempting to trade anything with a pulse that isn’t tied down? Easily, actually. Every Major League team will receive, or have already received, a one-time lump sum of $50 million after Disney acquired BAMTech, a figure I got from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Jeter and the Marlins expect their payroll to be around or under the $90 million mark in 2018 with the figure dropping to $81 million in 2019 and $84.8 million in 2020 according to the same article from Jackson, although obviously a lot can change between now and the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Of course, Miami is going to turn a profit, the team only has to make $40 million in sales and revenue in 2018 to turn a profit, and that number is only that high with the salaries of Edinson Volquez ($9 million), Brad Ziegler ($9 million), Junichi Tazawa ($7 million), Christian Yelich ($7 million), Starlin Castro (10.857 million) and J.T. Realmuto (third year of arbitration) currently on the roster. If any or all of these men are traded that number becomes increasingly smaller.

Jeter went out and called his shot saying the team would make a profit, good for him. This is a business first-and-foremost and the ultimate goal, despite what George Steinbrenner would say if he were alive right now, is to make money. The old days of operating in the red, buying up anything and everything on the free agent market and winning 100 games a season are over. I just want everyone to have all the information available to them before once again anointing Mr. Jeter for another job well done. Here’s to Mr. November, Mr. December and his ownership group down in Miami. I hope you do well, the city and the organization need it and definitely deserve it. Stay well. 

Oh, and that makes me wonder what Hal and company are doing with that $50 million. Hmm....