Blue Jays getting the version of Patrick Corbin the Nationals paid for but didn't receive

Patrick Corbin signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Blue Jays while the team faced a shortage of starting pitching due to multiple injuries. He was inserted into a thin rotation and has exceeded expectations with improved performance. In his latest start, he pitched six innings for the first time this season, recorded a season-high seven strikeouts, and threw 57 of 84 pitches for strikes. Through 44 innings in 2026, he has a 3.86 ERA. Corbin’s lower velocity contrasts with Paul Skenes’ power, yet Corbin outdueled him. Corbin’s career with Washington included early success, a World Series title, and later decline, followed by a resurgence with Toronto.

"When veteran Patrick Corbin signed a one-year, $1 million contract on April 4th, it never seemed like his future with the Blue Jays was guaranteed. At the time, Toronto was in desperate need of starting pitching, as Trey Yesavage, José Berríos, and Shane Bieber were all on the injured list, while Cody Ponce was ruled out for the season. Corbin was quickly thrown into a thin rotation to provide some much-needed depth, and the veteran southpaw has completely exceeded expectations."

"His latest outing may have looked like a difficult matchup on paper against Paul Skenes, but Corbin was excellent once again and outdueled the young superstar. The 36-year-old pitched six innings for the first time this season, collected a season-high seven strikeouts, and threw 57 of his 84 pitches for strikes. Through 44 innings in 2026, Corbin owns a 3.86 ERA."

"Stylistically, Corbin and Skenes could not be more different on the mound. The veteran tops out at 92 mph, while Skenes' changeup can touch 89 mph. Saturday, though, proved otherwise, as Skenes allowed a career-high nine hits against while surrendering a leadoff homer to George Springer, which marked his 65th career leadoff home run."

"Corbin's reversing of the aging curve, much like Springer's 2025 campaign, has been a spectacle to watch. He played for Washington under a 6-year, $140 million contract, but was never more than an average starter at best. His new contract with the Nats started off hot, pitching to a 3.25 ERA back in 2019, and helped them to their first World Series title. After that, it spiraled downhill."

Read at Jays Journal