Rangers Reinforce Starting Rotation with Emergency Signing
SURPRISE, Ariz. — With the starting rotation in tatters, the Rangers on Tuesday took emergency steps to reinforce it. They signed a whole bunch of league leaders. They got the MLB leader in losses over the last four years. Added the league leader in hits allowed over that time period, too. And while they were at it, they picked up the guy with the highest WHIP, as well.
And they did it with expert efficiency: They got all that with one move.
Patrick Corbin even threw in the league’s highest post-COVID ERA as part of the deal.
The Need for Innings
For all the ugly numbers Corbin, 35, has accumulated over the last four years, one number stood out from the rest over that stretch. That number: 679. It’s his innings pitched total. Here he ranks in the same class as Gerrit Cole, who has just eight more. Pretty good bet now that Corbin will pass him. The Rangers desperately need innings at the moment.
Jon Gray is out until sometime in June, and that’s with a somewhat encouraging report about the state of his fractured right wrist. Cody Bradford probably isn’t an option until May; June if you want him back as a starter, which would be the Rangers’ preference. Jacob deGrom and Tyler Mahle are going to be on pitch limits all season, but especially stringent ones early in the year. Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker, the leading internal candidates to fill out the rotation, have combined for three total MLB outings of at least five innings and none longer than that.
A Veteran Presence
“Circumstances have changed internally with our starting pitching and the depth,” President of Baseball Operations Chris Young said Tuesday. “We felt like signing Patrick Corbin was an opportunity to bring in somebody who has really been an innings stabilizer over the past 10-plus years. He’s a veteran player, a competitor and, by all accounts, just a winning personality who will fit into our clubhouse. It gives us some added protection.
We also believe that there’s some things we saw in the second half of last year with his performance that indicate if he can continue that trend, he can be a very serviceable major league starting pitcher, which we need right now.”
A Change in Approach
Corbin, who finished in the top 12 in the NL Cy Young Award voting in both 2018 and 2019, has struggled to perform for a while, with a 5.71 ERA, 63 losses and a 1.532 WHIP since 2021. But he’s taken a licking and kept on pitching.
For the Rangers, there is value alone in the innings. In a worst-case scenario, Corbin will stand out there every fifth day, take a licking and keep on pitching. That would help save the multi-inning relievers for more winnable games.
Insurance for the Rotation
What goes unsaid here is that the move comes across as a hedge against Leiter and Rocker. While they could both get spots in the opening day rotation, when Corbin is ready, he’s going in. Which means, one of them is coming out.
That probably won’t happen until two turns through the rotation. Corbin has thrown 80 pitches of live BP in Florida, but hasn’t faced big league hitters, done fielding practice and hasn’t been seen by Bochy and Mike Maddux. And they won’t see him until next week. Corbin’s wife is due to give birth before the weekend, so the Rangers gave him permission to join them when the team returns to Arlington. If the late-spring signing of Michael Lorenzen last year is any guide, they’ll probably want him to make the equivalent of two tuneup starts.
Conclusion
The Rangers’ signing of Patrick Corbin is a move to reinforce their starting rotation, which has been depleted by injuries. While Corbin’s recent numbers may not be impressive, his ability to eat innings and provide a veteran presence in the clubhouse makes him a valuable addition. The team believes that with some adjustments to his pitch repertoire, Corbin can be a serviceable major league starting pitcher.
FAQs
Q: Why did the Rangers sign Patrick Corbin?
A: The Rangers signed Corbin to reinforce their starting rotation, which has been depleted by injuries. They needed a veteran presence who can eat innings and provide some stability.
Q: What are Corbin’s chances of making the opening day rotation?
A: Corbin will likely join the rotation after two turns, which means one of the current starters, possibly Leiter or Rocker, will be coming out.
Q: What adjustments is Corbin making to his pitch repertoire?
A: Corbin has added a cutter to his repertoire and is working on a changeup. The Rangers believe these adjustments can help him become a more effective pitcher.
Q: How does Corbin’s signing affect Leiter and Rocker?
A: Corbin’s signing can be seen as a hedge against Leiter and Rocker, who have had uneven springs. However, the team still believes in their potential and will give them opportunities to prove themselves.
