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The Nationals made their biggest free-agent signing since landing Max Scherzer in January 2015, inking Patrick Corbin to a 6-year, $140 million deal this afternoon (as per Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post).
For the Corbins, the immediate aftermath has likely played out rather simply: some hugs, a steak dinner, and some hastily-ordered Nationals gear.
But for everyone else, the first instinct after any free-agent deal is to open Twitter, and this contract is no different.
Here are the reactions, which range from excited to insightful to funny...
From the media:
Patrick Corbin is likely to get the biggest pitching contract of the winter, and usually a player in that position is under some inherent obligation to take the most significant offer, for the sake of the Players Association.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 4, 2018
No one has said so, but stands to reason Rizzo and Co. plan is take care of business, leave the Harper decision up to ownership. Lerners were always going to have to make an unprecedented commitment to get. So get roster right without saving up for Harper, leave it up to them.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) December 4, 2018
Missing out on Corbin is a bit of a bummer but that puts the Nats in a spot where they’d basically be assured of going deep into Luxury Tax Land if they brought Harper back
— The Good Phight (@TheGoodPhight) December 4, 2018
And maybe they don’t care about that, who knows
Nats always run silent, often get underestimated in how hard they'll go in off-season deals for what they want/need, from Werth through Scherzer & now 6-yrs for Patrick Corbin. Nats created alternative future w/out Harper, but offered him $300M. He said, "No." They moved on. https://t.co/GR1Gq9KBJ7
— Thomas Boswell (@ThomasBoswellWP) December 4, 2018
Patrick Corbin's trajectory is something else
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) December 4, 2018
2013: All-Star
2014: Tommy John
2015: recovery, half season
2016: demoted to bullpen
2017: Solid, nondescript season
2018: #5 in NL Cy Young, AS
2019-> $140MM
From the slightly less serious part of the media:
Spent so much time on the one I already made. Problem was it was the wrong team, so I made some adjustments. pic.twitter.com/Iu0NJBgROF
— Jake Headley (@JakeWHeadley) December 4, 2018
Well, I'd like to see the Phillies get outbid for Corbin!
— Lookout Landing (@LookoutLanding) December 4, 2018
*Phillies are outbid easily*
Ah! Well. Nevertheless, pic.twitter.com/yXvCUsyQgt
Wait I thought Patrick Corbin has been a Yankee for the last 5 years?
— Cespedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) December 4, 2018
Brian Cashman when Patrick Corbin's agent said they had a six-year, $140M offer pic.twitter.com/F4jrTL6FjE
— SNY (@SNYtv) December 4, 2018
From the fans:
Congrats to Mike Rizzo on laying out the cash for a non-Boras client. Honestly, that's the most impressive thing here.
— Internet Contrarian (@bogcommenter) December 4, 2018
Me 10 minutes ago: Wow, Corbin is going to give the Phillies a great 1-2 punch in the rotation they have to sign him!
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) December 4, 2018
Me now: lmao Corbin had a single elite year during his physical prime, already had Tommy John surgery and will be 36 when his contract ends, idiot Nationals
I guess Corbin really liked Cafe Milano!
— Internet Contrarian (@bogcommenter) December 4, 2018
Hell why not, spend all the money, who's to say baseball will still exist in 5 years anyway
— m (@em_dash01) December 4, 2018
I can report that Catrick Porbin would be a fun name for a pet.
— James O'Hara (@thisyeardc) December 4, 2018
The NLDS jokes:
Patrick Corbin got the best of all worlds:
— Freddie Benson (@DeeH_NYC) December 4, 2018
- Job security
- A ton of money
- Guaranteed vacation time immediately after the NLDS every year
That's a hell of a top of the rotation for the Washington Nationals to lose another NLDS with. https://t.co/Noh2ndZ3m5
— That Maccabee Kid (@Joshua_Springer) December 4, 2018