The Cleveland Indians may be looking to re-tool their roster this off-season as they are putting many of the veterans on the trade block. One of those is former Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber. Where could they trade him to?
The off-season has just begun, but the Cleveland Indians are already a team to watch as they could be a major player in the trade market. Not as a buyer, but as potential seller.
Faced with market constraints, the Indians will listen to trade offers for some of their veteran players this winter, according to sources. Kluber, Carrasco, Encarnacion, Gomes, etc. Lindor, Ramirez will definitely be held.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 2, 2018
Yesterday was the deadline for qualifying offers to eligible free agents, and the Cleveland Indians didn’t give one to Andrew Miller, Cody Allen or Michael Brantley, meaning they won’t get draft pick compensation if those players sign elsewhere.
One of the names that Olney mentioned is the former AL Cy Young Award Winner Corey Kluber. He’s set to make $15 million next year with two club options for 2020 at $15 million and 2021 at $16 million for his age 33-35 seasons.
Kluber is coming off another excellent season, making his third straight All-Star team, going 20-5 with a 2.89 ERA, his fifth straight season of over 200 innings pitched, and a 0.99 WHIP.
The top pitchers in the free agent market are Patrick Corbin, Nathan Eovaldi and Dallas Keuchel. With the contracts they could garner in free agency, teams may be more apt to make trades instead.
Even if the Cleveland Indians were to trade a couple of the players listed, it doesn’t mean they are going in the tank. There is still quality up and down the roster, plus with the packages they could get back, and with how weak the AL Central is, they could line themselves up for another playoff appearance in 2019.
The big chip to cash in would be Kluber. So where could he go? Let’s take a look at some possible destinations