CLEVELAND — Corey Kluber’s time pitching for the Cleveland Indians has come to an end.
After days of reports surfacing of teams’ interest in Kluber, who is coming off of a broken bone in his throwing arm that cost him most of the 2019 season, the Indians traded the staff ace and two-time American League Cy Young Award winner to the Texas Rangers, according to multiple outlets.
Despite his suffering the injury, trading for Kluber was an attractive prospect for teams around the league because of his team-friendly contract.
Currently, Kluber is under contract for one more season before the option years come into play. He is due $17.2 million in 2019 and has club options for $17.5 million (2020) and $18 million (2021). Kluber increased his base salary for 2019 to $17 million because of a $4 million escalator clause that he reached in 2018. Kluber will make an additional $1 million because of the trade.
Reaction to the trade was swift on social media, ranging from hope this move does not trigger a complete rebuild to those who will remember Kluber’s outstanding pitching performance in leading an injury-hampered staff to Game 7 of the World Series and Rangers fans who were excited for the acquisition.
Hope of no rebuild
The last two times the Indians dealt Cy Young Award winners, CC Sabathia in 2008 and Cliff Lee in 2009, the moves triggered a lengthy rebuild that reached its full potential in 2016 when, under the direction of manager Terry Francona, the team came within a victory of the city’s first World Series Championship since 1948.
This time around, Indians fans are hopeful trading Kluber will not spark a rebuild and are confident that with the young pitching staff on team-friendly deals (Carlos Carrasco, Shane Bieber, Mike Clevinger, Zach Plesac and Aaron Civale), the franchise will be able to endure the loss.
Remember 2016
While some fans were hopeful, others had a sense of gratitude for what Kluber was able to accomplish in 2016.
Kluber made three starts against the Chicago Cubs in the World Series, and although he struggled through Game 7, the veteran right-hander earned wins in Games 1 and 4 to give the Indians a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Cumulatively in 2016, Kluber posted a 4-1 record with one no-decision in six starts, and over 34.1 innings of work, allowed seven earned runs, 28 hits and eight walks against 35 strikeouts.
Positive for Rangers
Others saw the move as nothing but positive for the Rangers, as Kluber is not far removed from making a positive impact on playoff teams.
In his 33 starts during the 2018 season, Kluber (20-7) registered 222 strikeouts against just 34 walks, 179 hits and 69 earned runs allowed over 215.0 innings of work while anchoring a pitching staff that led the way to the Indians’ third consecutive AL Central Division Championship.
Opposing batters hit just .223 against Kluber during the 2018 season.
An AL All-Star for the third consecutive season (2016-2018), Kluber posted an 8-2 record in 13 starts following the 2018 Mid-Summer Classic. Over 81.1 innings pitched, Kluber struck out 90 batters and walked only 17 while cutting down on his home runs allowed.
Kluber posted a 98-58 record with a 3.16 earned run average in 208 games, including 203 starts, over parts of nine seasons with the Indians. Over nine starts in five career postseason series, Kluber posted a 4-3 record with a 3.97 earned run average and 47 strikeouts over 45.1 innings of work.
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