Patrick Corbin signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays and was optioned to Low-A Dunedin, confirmed by the Blue Jays; max scherzer remained listed in the season-opening rotation alongside Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease.
Blue Jays Sign Patrick Corbin
the Blue Jays announced Corbin's one-year deal is worth $1 million with $1 million in incentives and that the club did not need to clear a 40-man spot because it had 40-man vacancies. Toronto made the signing in response to injury problems in the rotation — Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage and José Berríos started the season on the injured list — and to replace Cody Ponce after Ponce sprained the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in his first start.
Corbin Optioned to Low-A Dunedin
the Blue Jays optioned Patrick Corbin to Low-A Dunedin. Corbin had been working out while unsigned and had gotten himself up to 80 pitches before the signing, a factor the club used to place him in a development assignment rather than on the major-league roster immediately. the club described Corbin as a veteran back-end option or possible long reliever as it manages short-term depth.
Corbin's Recent Workload and Team Plans
Corbin made 30 starts and one relief appearance for the Rangers last season, logging 155 1/3 innings with a 4.40 earned run average; his 19.8% strikeout rate and 39.6% ground ball rate were below average while his 7.7% walk rate was better than par. Toronto planned a bullpen game started by Mason Fluharty the next day and was then scheduled to face the Dodgers in a three-game series that the club expected Max Scherzer, Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease to start.
Read Also: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Seeks Fourth Win in Toronto Dodgers Vs Blue Jays
Toronto's schedule includes off-days on April 9 and April 13 and a stretch in which the Blue Jays would play nine straight games followed by an off-day and then 13 straight games — 22 times in 23 days from April 14 to May 6 — making short-term pitching depth urgent for the club.
Corbin has enough major-league service time that he cannot be optioned without his consent. the Blue Jays nevertheless optioned him to Low-A Dunedin while retaining roster flexibility via existing 40-man vacancies; that combination of service-time rules and roster management creates a tension between the club's need for immediate innings and a veteran pitcher's contractual protections.
Will Patrick Corbin be available to help the Toronto Blue Jays' major-league staff during the 22 games in 23 days from April 14 to May 6, given he was optioned to Low-A Dunedin after reaching 80 pitches while unsigned?
