Corey Patterson

Corey Patterson

45-Year-Old OutfielderOF
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Corey Patterson in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Released by the Mariners in June of 2013.
OFNew York Yankees  
June 21, 2013
Patterson has signed a minor league deal with the Yankees and will start off at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Scranton Times-Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Patterson was released by the Mariners two weeks ago but will get another chance to fight for a job in the big leagues. The third overall pick in the 1998 Amateur Draft had a disappointing career and has not played in the majors since 2011.
Read More News
Batting Stats
Loading Batting Stats...
Minor League Game Log
calculator icon
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Minor League Batting Game Log...
Advanced Batting Stats
Loading Advanced Batting Stats...
Additional Stats
Games By Position
Defensive Stats
Loading Games Played by Position...
Loading MLB Defensive Stats...
Batted Ball Stats
Loading Batted Ball Stats...
Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
Want more matchup stats?
Loading Matchup Stats...
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2012
2011
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
Patterson played sparingly after he was traded from St. Louis to Toronto, so it was no surprise the Redbirds let him go after the season. His outlook is the same in 2012 as it is every year: he can steal bases but he can't steal first base. If he's lucky, someone will let him be a fifth outfielder. Someone always does, and marginal fantasy value will follow for those in deep formats.
Patterson still can steal bases effectively, but he never learned how to take a walk, and at age 31, it's doubtful he's ever going to pick up that skill. Now with the Blue Jays, it's unlikely he'll play as often as he did with the Orioles in 2010 after Felix Pie got hurt. Instead, he projects more as a fourth outfielder and pinch-runner, if he even wins a roster spot out of spring training.
Reds manager Dusty Baker did a lot of things right in 2008. He quickly settled on Joey Votto as the better first base option over Scott Hatteberg. He remained patient with Edwin Encarnacion's defensive shortcomings and deep slumps. He even did well not to build up the pitch counts of Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez. But he still couldn't help himself when it came to playing "his guys," like Paul Bako and especially Corey Patterson. Patterson somehow found a way to get 366 at-bats, 143 of them in the leadoff spot, where he hit .182/.217/.322 and scored just 17 runs in 35 games. Patterson may have borne more than his share of the blame for the Reds' woes in 2008, but that's because his presence at the top of the order so clearly stood out for its inappropriateness.
If you take Patterson for what he is at face value, he can be useful. He'll hit the occasional homer to go along with his reliable stolen bases. Just don't expect him to take a walk or hit lefties on a recurring basis. As of press time, Patterson remained a free agent, having to wait for the bigger-named center fielders to sign first before resolving his 2008 destiny.
Patterson had a fantasy All-Star season in 2006 after being plucked off the scrap heap by the Orioles, finishing the season with a .276 average, 16 homers, 53 RBI, 75 runs and 45 steals in 54 attempts. The Orioles traded nothing to get him, so all of this production was a tremendous boon for the team, but Patterson does have two main flaws. First, he has an awful career K:BB ratio, but only struck out nine times for every two walks in 2006, good for the second best mark of his career. Patterson’s other major flaw is his inability to hit lefties. He batted .301/.341/.485 with 13 homers and a 65:17 K:BB ratio (3.82) in 342 at-bats against righties, but only hit .207/.238/.322 with three homers and a 29:4 K:BB ratio (7.25) in 121 at-bats against southpaws. Not only did he strike out more than walk against lefties, but he also struck out an astonishing once out of every 4.2 plate appearances against them. The Orioles’ offseason acquisition of the right-handed Jay Payton, who can play center field, suggests that the team might platoon Patterson in center if he continues to be unable to put the ball in play against lefties. Regardless, he still should put up major fantasy numbers again in 2007.
Patterson has gone from top prospect to rising star to major disappointment the last couple years. Deep slumps, frequent strikeouts and an apparent unwillingness to improve landed him in manager Dusty Baker's doghouse and eventually back in Triple-A. When Patterson returned to the majors down the stretch, he reverted to the same bad habits, namely swinging at everything and treating first base like there was anthrax on it. Patterson, still only 26, has decent power, plays a solid center field and is fast enough to steal a bag, so he should get a shot to win the job in Baltimore this spring.
Although Patterson probably made most of his owners happy last season, he didn't grow as a hitter. Not only did he lose .066 off his 2003 OPS, but his plate discipline (if one can even use that term here) improved only slightly, with his strikeout rate actually going up. Moreover, he was incredibly streaky, posting an OPS of .932, .571, .993 and .644 from June to September. He's still young and talented, but be prepared for his batting-average downside and those deep slumps.
Patterson was in the middle of a breakout season when he suffered a 30 percent tear of the left ACL in addition to a torn meniscus last July. Patterson still hasn't shown any plate discipline, putting up those numbers despite a 15/77 BB/K ratio, but that he hit for power and average while playing a very solid center field largely mitigates that one glaring flaw in his game. At press time, Patterson is expected to be healthy for the start of spring training, but we probably won't know for sure until later in the winter. Moreover, it remains to be seen how the knee injury will affect Patterson's running game.
Although it was camouflaged slightly by his 14 homers and 18 steals, Patterson had an abysmal season at the plate in 2002, going .253/.284/.392 in 592 at-bats. The problem was his terrible batting eye - just 19 walks against 142 strikeouts. His defense and enormous physical talent should keep him in the lineup, but until he learns some patience at the plate, his batting average should continue to weigh him down. Still, a 20/20 season is well within reach in 2003 as long as Patterson doesn't slump his way out of the lineup.
More Fantasy News
OFSeattle Mariners  
June 7, 2013
Patterson was released Thursday, Triple-A Tacoma broadcaster Mike Curto reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
OFSeattle Mariners  
April 30, 2013
Patterson signed a minor league contract with Seattle on Tuesday and will report to extended spring training in Peoria, AZ, MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
OFMilwaukee Brewers  
January 30, 2012
Patterson has signed a minor league deal with the Brewers, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
OFSt. Louis Cardinals  
October 31, 2011
St. Louis declined the $1.1 million option for 2012 in Patterson's contract, the Associated Press reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
OFSt. Louis Cardinals  
August 9, 2011
Patterson is starting in center field for Tuesday's game against the Brewers, Cards' official Twitter feed reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.