Patrick Corbin is setting himself up nicely for a big payday next offseason, from the Diamondbacks or the Yankees or some other club.

The 28-year-old left-hander is off to a hugestart in his walk year; he leads the National League with 48 strikeouts and is second in the majors to the Astros' Gerrit Cole. He's 4-0 with a 1.89 Shaq Thompson Jerseys ERA in five starts.

With that succe s has come speculation Corbin might fly east next winter after he becomes a free agent. He caused a Brady Christensen Jerseys stir this week when that he would "love" to pitch for the Yanks, the team he rooted for as a kid in Syracuse, N.Y. New York likely will be lookingto replace CC Sabathia in the rotation for 2019, and the club reportedly tried to trade for Corbin last offseason, so the fit seems almost too natural.

STELLINI:

Corbin tried to Shi Smith Jerseys set things straight Tuesday, telling reporters (including ) he hasn't ruled out the D-backs at all.

I'm excited to be here. I love it here. I could be back here. I have no idea. Im just prepared and ready to go for this year," he said, per Piecoro. In fact, he told USA Today that "every team will have an opportunity" to sign him, and that he's open to negotiating an extension with Arizona this season.

Corbin was a rising star in 2014 when he suffered an elbow injury in spring Sam Mills Jerseys training that required Tommy John surgery. He was effective the second half of the 2015 season, but he regre sed sharply in 2016, to the point the Kevin Greene Jerseys D-backs sent him to the bullpen to work as a long reliever.

He finished that year 5-13 with a 5.15 ERA, but the switch to the 'pen seemed to work.He flashed some of his previous form in 2017 (4.03 ERA/4.08 FIP, career-high 8.4 K/9 in 32 starts), and now he's looking better than the pitcher who won 14 games and posted a 3.41 ERA in 2013, his first full major-league season.

As mentioned in the USA Today story, observers marvel at his wipeout slider, which complements his low-90s fastball. He has swapped his changeup for a curveball this season.

Thatrevamped Cam Newton Jerseys repertoire has helped set Corbin on a path to riches. He insists that path is not, in fact,an expre s lane to the Bronx.