District On Deck
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Washington Nationals reportedly agree six-year deal with Patrick Corbin

By Blake Finney

SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Patrick Corbin #46 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on September 28, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Patrick Corbin #46 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on September 28, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /
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One of the winter’s first dominoes has fallen as the Washington Nationals agreed to a six-year deal with free agent starter Patrick Corbin on Tuesday.

The Washington Nationals continue to make a statement of intent this offseason, as they added arguably the market’s top starting pitcher, Patrick Corbin. The team reportedly beat out the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies for his signature.

After a lot of speculation that he was set to sign a six-year deal, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post dropped the bombshell Nats fans were hoping for, reporting that he was set to sign in D.C. pending a physical.

Jon Heyman of FanCred Sports later reported that the deal is for $140 million over those six seasons. That averages out as $23.3 million per season, which seems to be a fair amount for the best starter in free agency.

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Corbin is coming off a career year in 2018 when he went 11-7 with a 3.15 ERA and struck out 246 in 200 innings. He will immediately slot in as the team’s number three starter in the rotation behind Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg to form an intimidating threesome.

Not only does he add thump to the front of the rotation, after the departure of Gio Gonzalez, but he will also add a much need left-handed presence too. Corbin’s slider, in particular, causes lefty hitters a lot of trouble given his release point and devastating break and should allow him to pitch well throughout his contract.

This may not be the only starting pitcher that Mike Rizzo adds this offseason, as he is keen to once again use it as the foundation for a run at the World Series. The number of early deals in the offseason is also significant, as Corbin becomes the team’s fifth addition since the start of the playoffs.

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The Washington Nationals will now arguably bost the best front three starters in the National League. Patrick Corbin is a huge signing as the team looks to get back on top of the NL East in 2019.

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