Report: Yankees expected to pursue Patrick Corbin in free agency

The New York Yankees are already planning for the offseason.

Their first order of business after being ousted from the postseason by the Boston Red Sox is to shore up the starting rotation, and the Yankees apparently have their eyes on a big-ticket lefty.

New York is expected to target starter Patrick Corbin this offseason, sources told Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports.

Corbin has spent his entire career with the Diamondbacks, pitching six seasons in Arizona.

It's not the first time Corbin and the Yankees have been connected. Last offseason, New York was reportedly scouting him and even had talks with the Diamondbacks about a potential trade alongside infielder Brandon Drury. A deal for Drury eventually materialized, but Corbin stayed in the desert.

It appears the lefty would welcome the opportunity to don pinstripes. A New York native, Corbin grew up a fan of the Yankees and said in April that 'it would definitely be great to play' for them.

The Yankees' rotation may be in flux, too, as both CC Sabathia and J.A. Happ are free agents and Sonny Gray is coming off a year in which he pitched to a 4.90 ERA in 130 1/3 innings. Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka appear to be the only sure things heading into next season.

The 29-year-old Corbin had a career-best campaign in 2018, going 11-7 with a 3.15 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 11.07 K/9. It also marked the first time since 2013 that the southpaw managed to throw 200 innings in a single season. Corbin then underwent Tommy John surgery, missed the entirety of 2014, and has been working his way back to top form since.