YANKEES LOSE PATRICK CORBIN TO NATIONALS

Source: USA Today

I couldn't believe it.  I guess I am not used to it.  But, the Yankees did in fact get outbid as the New York Times stated in its headline last night.  According to the Times, "When the first big free-agent domino fell on Tuesday, the biggest surprise was not that Patrick Corbin landed a six-year, $140 million contract, it was the team with whom he signed it."  And that team was not the Yankees nor the Philadelphia Phillies, Corbin's biggest suitors, but the Washington Nationals who had a pot full of money with "the expiring contracts of Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy, Gio Gonzalez and Matt Wieters free nearly $62 million from their payroll — and probably fueled by last season’s collapse, they were willing to outbid the competition by adding a sixth year to the offer," reported the Times.

Source: AJC.com

Being on the losing side of the bidding war feels, well, defeating, but more than that, it feels awkward as it's not something I was expecting.  "The Yankees have occasionally lost out on free agents over the years — Greg Maddux didn’t care much for New York, and Curt Schilling was intrigued by the possibility of ending the Red Sox playoff drought — but it is exceedingly rare for them to pursue one of the top players on the market and be outbid," reported the Times.  Yes, that's exactly it.  We don't lose out like this.  It is just not typical.

Source: Sports Illustrated

Who will they pursue next?  Well Brian Cashman does not seem worried with his comment that there are plenty of great players out there on the market that can improve the team and lift them to the top of the AL East.  It is just a matter of at what cost?  Clearly, the Yankees need more than the rotation they currently have in Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia and newly acquired James Paxton.  They could augment the team of starters with other big ticket free agents including Dallas Keuchel, Nathan Eovaldi, J. A. Happ and Corey Kluber.

Source: Philly.com

The Yankees lost one big fish, but there is always today, tomorrow and the next day. It is very early in the off season and with the Winter Meetings heating up in Las Vegas on Sunday, there will be a number of good opportunities coming their way.  Corbin to Nats.  Okay, onto the next candidate for Yankee starter in pursuit of #28.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof