Dodgers

Dodgers Interested in Cleveland Ace Corey Kluber, Reports Say

The Los Angeles Dodgers have shown interest in Cleveland starting pitcher Corey Kluber, per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.

Corey Kluber’s time in Cleveland is likely coming to an end. Plus the Indians already have a bright, young rotation making Kluber expendable. In addition, he is set to make $17.5 Million in 2020, a high price tag for a small market team.

Kluber, 33, only pitched 35 innings in 2019 due to a broken forearm, followed by an oblique strain. In this small sample size he found little success, posting a 5.80 ERA.

Although, from 2013-2018 Kluber solidified himself as one of the premier starters in the league, with a 2.97 ERA and two AL Cy Young awards.

The Dodgers would be a fathomable landing spot for Kluber given three-fifths of their projected 2020 rotation have little to no experience in the majors as starters. Moreover, the long-time Indians ace is someone that MLB.com beat writer Ken Gurnick sees as an ideal fit for this young Dodgers team.

If Kluber is indeed fully healthy, there is a good chance he could return to his pre-2019 form. Although, at this point a deal is still pretty unlikely.

A Corey Kluber and Francisco Lindor package would surely cost the Dodgers at least one of Gavin Lux and Dustin May, and possibly Corey Seager, but could be a viable scenario as Andrew Friedman looks to change the makeup of this team for 2020. A blockbuster of this magnitude would certainly change the perception of the off-season for the Dodgers.

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