MLB rumors: Yankees facing new suitor bidding for Patrick Corbin, J.A. Happ

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is expected to talk with representatives for Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Patrick Corbin. Cashman would also like to re-sign free-agent left-hander J.A. Happ. But the Chicago White Sox are emerging as a new contender for the prized pitchers.

On Tuesday, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported the Toronto Blue Jays are interested in signing free-agent left-hander J.A. Happ.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has already gone on the record as saying he has interest in re-signing Happ, who was acquired from the Blue Jays in a trade deadline deal in July.

Cashman also is expected to make a run at free-agent left-hander Patrick Corbin, as he tries to overhaul the starting rotation for 2019.

According to Morosi, a new suitor is emerging to challenge the Yankees for both Happ and Corbin:

Sources: #WhiteSox active in starting pitching market, with interest in Patrick Corbin and J.A. Happ, among others. The reason: Reynaldo Lopez is the only current White Sox pitcher who threw 50+ IP this year with a sub-4.00 ERA.

21 things learned at GM Meetings

Here’s the latest on Happ and Corbin, from NJ Advance Media’s Brendan Kuty, who is covering the GM Meetings in Carlsbad, Calif:

A person with knowledge of the negotiations between J.A. Happ and the Yankees said there wasn’t much to report on Happ’s front. The person, who requested anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly, added that not much as moved on Happ’s side and that the lefty starting pitcher was still trying to gauge interest from teams. Happ will have no shortage of suitors and the Yankees want him back.

On interest in Patrick Corbin …

What Cashman said: “He’s a free agent and we’re going to engage every free agent in the marketplace and assess their price tags and how they may fit for us and we’ll see.”

What he really said: This has become Cashman’s go-to quote when he’s asked about a free agent in which the Yankees will undoubtedly have interest. What he’s really saying is, “Of course, we’d like to sign Patrick Corbin, but I’m not going to give up any potential leverage by telling you guys all about it.”

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.