Rangers agree to Terms with Corey Kluber

[fordman84]

Considering Kluber’s past two seasons and the approx $40MM he’s owed over the next two seasons, I don’t have much of a problem with this move. They probably should have traded him last offseason.

last two seasons? I'd gladly take two seasons ago Kluber. 20-7 and sub 3 ERA...yes please.

I think the price we paid to get a local guy and potential stud pitcher is a win. At $20M per season, he's actually a bargain if he can give us 200 innings each year like he repeatedly did before one bad season. If he can give us 200 innings around a 4 ERA, I'll be thrilled.

As for the price, it was fun watching Deshields speed and Clase cross hitters up with his movement. Delino could get from the batters box back to the bench after striking out faster than anyone I've ever seen, it was inspiring to watch. Clase could be a star if he will be trusted in the 9th and only to face a few batters. You only need two plus pitches to be a shutdown closer, and he has two great ones. Texas needs the starters more than a closer. No use having a guy that can get you saves when you are never in the lead.

 

[dtgold88]

All remains to be seen.

Very true, but 30th best prospect on Texas and a 4th OFer? Might as well keep him and see if they can sell high later.

Of course, comes down to a directive from Dolan on payroll I'm sure.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

last two seasons? I'd gladly take two seasons ago Kluber. 20-7 and sub 3 ERA...yes please.

What those stats don't tell you is that by the end of the 2018 season, his back started barking again, culminating in a 4.78 ERA over his last five starts and another postseason bed shitting. Then seven 2019 starts pitching to a 5.80 ERA before he broke his arm and then couldn't rehab because of an oblique injury. Granted, it's a small sample size, but in his last 12 starts, he's sporting a 5.37 ERA. And he's 34 years old.

I think the price we paid to get a local guy and potential stud pitcher is a win. At $20M per season, he's actually a bargain if he can give us 200 innings each year like he repeatedly did before one bad season. If he can give us 200 innings around a 4 ERA, I'll be thrilled.

I think the days of Kluber being an ace are over. Clearly I'm not the only one or the Indians would have been able to net more than a relief prospect and a shitty outfielder for him. If he gives you 400 innings over the next two seasons, I'll be fairly surprised. If he pitches like an ace, Rangers will have gotten an incredible deal.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Corey Kluber Stats | Baseball-Reference.com

$18 Million in 2021 with a 1 Million buyout ... The Indians got very little in return ... Good news for the rest of the Central.

A young RP but it was Dolan's goal to get as many great, expensive players as possible off this roster. Cheap ass. Fuck him...

That being said, I think Kluber had his great run and past his prime.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Very true, but 30th best prospect on Texas and a 4th OFer? Might as well keep him and see if they can sell high later.

I think that's what they decided to do last offseason and it bit them in the ass. He comes out and has an April/May like he did last year, and no team would give the Indians shit for him.

Of course, comes down to a directive from Dolan on payroll I'm sure.

Could be. My gut tells me that there are much better ways to spend $40MM that what Kluber will produce over the next two years.

We'll see.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Great deal for Cleveland. Kluber is all but done.


Well, great deal if they pass the savings on to Lindor anyway. If they don't, nothing they do matters for atleast a decade.

I thought this was the plan anyway.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Well, great deal if they pass the savings on to Lindor anyway.

Lindor's gone.

Indians have offered him some decent extensions and he balked. I don't blame him. A slick-fielding SS with a nasty bat and wildly marketable personality will make a shitton of money as an unrestricted FA.

 

[broncosmitty]

Lindor's gone.

Indians have offered him some decent extensions and he balked. I don't blame him. A slick-fielding SS with a nasty bat and wildly marketable personality will make a shitton of money as an unrestricted FA.

Kids been a future HOFer since he tripped over first with his first hit, in my eyes.


That's a major failure if he isn't retained. Making this a pointless money dump too. Seriously, what's the point?


It's a shame if he isn't reupped. Dude should be the face of the franchise for the next decade.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Kids been a future HOFer since he tripped over first with his first hit, in my eyes.


That's a major failure if he isn't retained. Making this a pointless money dump too. Seriously, what's the point?


It's a shame if he isn't reupped. Dude should be the face of the franchise for the next decade.

Yeah, it sucks, but I don't think it's quite as simple as what you're implying.

If Lindor continues to perform at the level he has been, I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a $300+MM contract, which is a risk a team like the Indians can't afford to take. They sign him to a deal like that and it goes south, they'd be tomorrow's Detroit Tigers.

 

[broncosmitty]

Yeah, it sucks, but I don't think it's quite as simple as what you're implying.

If Lindor continues to perform at the level he has been, I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a $300+MM contract, which is a risk a team like the Indians can't afford to take. They sign him to a deal like that and it goes south, they'd be tomorrow's Detroit Tigers.

He's one of the best players in baseball, you can't get fair return on those. There isn't a fair return.


Taking that risk is the only way to stop the spread of shitty baseball across the entire division.


If he gets hurt, just send him to Texas once he's obviously washed up. They love those moves.

 

[PEOPLESCHICKEN]

Hence my title “Rangers”

You are backpedalling now....

 

[PEOPLESCHICKEN]

He's one of the best players in baseball, you can't get fair return on those. There isn't a fair return.


Taking that risk is the only way to stop the spread of shitty baseball across the entire division.


If he gets hurt, just send him to Texas once he's obviously washed up. They love those moves.

If only the Indians had a Miquel Cabrerra

 

[navamind]

Considering Kluber’s past two seasons and the approx $40MM he’s owed over the next two seasons, I don’t have much of a problem with this move. They probably should have traded him last offseason.

Yea, that 2.89 ERA over an AL leading 215 innings was just awful.

 

[navamind]

Nobody Really Wanted Corey Kluber

 

[broncosmitty]

If only the Indians had a Miquel Cabrerra

Or were still paying Prince Fielder.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Yea, that 2.89 ERA over an AL leading 215 innings was just awful.

Yep. Totally unacceptable.

I should have said last year and how ‘18 ended.

and David Ortiz did tons of steroids.

 

[fordman84]

Yep. Totally unacceptable.

I should have said last year and how ‘18 ended.

and David Ortiz did tons of steroids.

If he washes out and doesn't give 100 innings in two seasons then it was a bad trade for Texas. Otherwise we dealt the one thing we have a surplus of (young power bullpen arms) and a guy that may have started for the lowly Rangers in AAA.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

If he washes out and doesn't give 100 innings in two seasons then it was a bad trade for Texas. Otherwise we dealt the one thing we have a surplus of (young power bullpen arms) and a guy that may have started for the lowly Rangers in AAA.

I think it was a worthwhile trade for Texas to make. Same for the Indians. Time will tell if there was a "winner."

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

If he washes out and doesn't give 100 innings in two seasons then it was a bad trade for Texas. Otherwise we dealt the one thing we have a surplus of (young power bullpen arms) and a guy that may have started for the lowly Rangers in AAA.

Also, I believe Texas has some protection in the event that Kluber falls apart in '20.

I found this on Cot's:

if traded in 2020, 2021 option converts to a vesting option guaranteed if Kluber has 160 innings pitched in 2020 and is not on the disabled list at the end of the 2020 season

So, if he doesn't get to 160, or is on the DL at the end of the season, Rangers can pull the ripcord on the 2020 option and there's only a $1MM buyout.

 

[fordman84]

I think it was a worthwhile trade for Texas to make. Same for the Indians. Time will tell if there was a "winner."

Honestly I think both will look back and at worst say "meh, no big deal" and at best both will be happy.