By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The Philadelphia Phillies are not just looking to substantially upgrade their offensive lineup with star players like Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. The club is also among interested teams in free agent southpaw starters Patrick Corbin and Yusei Kikuchi, according to insider baseball scribes Ken Rosenthal and Jon Heyman.
Corbin, 29, is coming off of his sixth Major League season, all played with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Last season, the two-time All-Star tossed 200 innings while posting an impressive 246-48 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.050 WHIP. Given the Phillies are "operating in the sweet spot of burgeoning local TV money and few existing contractual commitments," Rosenthal reported on Monday that the club is expected to be a "major player" for either Machado or Harper, along with Corbin — the "top starting pitcher in free agency."
Kikuchi, 27, was first linked to the Phillies by Heyman on Sept. 20. The Seibu Lions agreed to post the eight-year Japanese veteran on Monday, allowing him to negotiate a deal with any of the 30 Major League teams. Other teams interested in the left-hander include the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. Kikucki is said to be "admired for his ability to pitch with above average velocity for a lefty," and is a "solid third starter." Over 162 games and 1,028 1/3 innings overseas, Kikuchi went 73-48 with 15 complete games, seven shutouts, 919 strikeouts and a 1.176 WHIP. He posted a 1.97 ERA in 26 starts and 187 2/3 innings in 2017 with the Lions.
Kikuchi will be represented by Scott Boras, the same agent as fellow Phillies free agent target in Harper.
At his season-ending press conference, Phillies president Andy MacPhail called the club "very right-handed," and said he wishes it would be "a little more left-handed." Free agency just got underway this week, and it appears the Phillies are poised to make at least one — if not two or three — significant signings over the next couple months.
