MLB rumors: How Yankees’ Brian Cashman can fix the starting rotation

After watching J.A. Happ, Luis Severino and C.C. Sabathia struggle in the American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman needs to make some changes to his starting rotation for 2019. That could lead him to Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Patrick Corbin.

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The Yankees head into the offseason with several questions regarding 2019. Perhaps the biggest one is this: how to upgrade the starting rotation.

Fancred’s Jon Heyman has an idea of what general manager Brian Cashman might try to do.

The Yankees are expected to target star lefthanded starting pitcher Patrick Corbin as a free agent this winter, sources said.

Their own free agent J.A. Happ could be a consideration, as well, and longtime Yankees star CC Sabathia hasn’t necessarily been ruled out, either.

Yankees people say they haven’t met yet to discuss the winter, but Corbin’s been an expected target for a while.

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Corbin also didn’t hurt his case when he said out loud how much he and his entire family love the Yankees. He grew up in upstate, New York, in the Syracuse area, which doesn’t hurt, either.

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The Diamondbacks will extend Corbin the $17.9 million qualifying offer, which attaches a draft choice to his signing, though it is no longer be a No. 1 pick that is lost. There is almost no chance he’d accept that one-year offer, as he should easily get a deal of four years or longer as a free agent.

Yankees 2018 report card

The Yankees watched their 100-win regular season in 2018 coming to a crashing halt in the American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox.

Starters J.A. Happ (Game 1), Luis Severino (Game 3) and C.C. Sabathia (Game 4) all failed spectacularly in the playoffs against Boston.

Happ lasted two innings in the 5-4 loss in Game 1.

Severino lasted three innings in the 16-1 loss in Game 3.

Sabathia lasted three innings in the 4-3 loss in Game 4.

So it sounds like starting pitching is a good place for the Yankees to start.

Corbin is a 29-year-old lefty who went 11-7 with a career-best 3.15 ERA this season for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.