Cleveland Indians: Five trade spots for Corey Kluber

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 6: Corey Kluber #28 of the Cleveland Indians receives his 2017 Cy Young award prior to the game against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 6, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Royals 3-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Corey Kluber
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 6: Corey Kluber #28 of the Cleveland Indians receives his 2017 Cy Young award prior to the game against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 6, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Royals 3-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Corey Kluber
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CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 18: Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) delivers a pitch to the plate during the third inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians on September 18, 2018, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 18: Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) delivers a pitch to the plate during the third inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians on September 18, 2018, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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.

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

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – JUNE 24: New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (24) walks off the field with New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17), Trainer Steve Donohue and Yankees Spanish translator Marlon Abreu after an injury in the 10th inning of the regular season MLB game between the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays on June 24, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – JUNE 24: New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (24) walks off the field with New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17), Trainer Steve Donohue and Yankees Spanish translator Marlon Abreu after an injury in the 10th inning of the regular season MLB game between the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays on June 24, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees watched their biggest rival celebrate on their field not once, but twice this year, plus watched them win their fourth championship since 2004. It’s going to be a very interesting off-season in the Bronx, but one of the ways they can catch the Boston Red Sox is to upgrade their starting pitching. There are questions about Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka, while J.A. Happ and CC Sabathia are free agents. They have some money to spend thanks to their young core of position players and resetting the luxury tax.

Insead of spending money on adding Manny Machado, they could spend some money on Corbin to help upgrade, but why not be aggressive and try and get Corbin AND trade for Kluber if he’s available. Combining them with Severino and Tanaka, plus the bullpen and the offense they have on a team that won 100 games last season could be what they need to put them over the hump in the playoffs, even if Didi Gregorius misses half the season or more recovering from Tommy John surgery.

These clubs made the Andrew Miller trade just a couple of seasons ago, and even though the New York Yankees farm system isn’t as highly ranked as it has been thanks to promotions to the majors, they still have some quality prospects in the farm system.

ATLANTA, GA SEPTEMBER 21: Atlanta starting pitcher Julio Teheran (left) and catcher Tyler Flowers (right) talk things over during the game between Atlanta and Philadelphia on September 21st, 2018 at SunTrust Park in Atlanta, GA. The Atlanta Braves came from behind to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies by a score of 6 to 5. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA SEPTEMBER 21: Atlanta starting pitcher Julio Teheran (left) and catcher Tyler Flowers (right) talk things over during the game between Atlanta and Philadelphia on September 21st, 2018 at SunTrust Park in Atlanta, GA. The Atlanta Braves came from behind to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies by a score of 6 to 5. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Atlanta Braves

Corey Kluber was born in Birmingham Alabama. Hop on I-20 east and in about 2.5 hours you’ll find yourself in Atlanta Georgia. The Atlanta Braves came on last year to win the National League East. They are a squad built on quite a bit of youth, both on the pitching staff and with their position player core.

The National League is wide open and now would be the time for them to strike. Adding Kluber to lead a rotation with Mike Foltynewicz, Sean Newcomb, Julio Teheran, Kevin Gausman and others could put them in a position to win a pennant next season before members of that core get expensive.

The Atlanta Braves could use some more offense and some bullpen help, but maybe adding an ace like Kluber can help that bullpen be better by picking up more innings. Pitching in the National League may help Kluber’s numbers moving forward as he gets older as well.

For the Indians, the Braves have the kind of farm system that could make a reload easier, with all of the pitching prospects the Braves have. Someone like Touki Toussant in a deal for Kluber, could give the Indians another young arm to add to the rotation and move forward with.

ST. LOUIS, MO – JULY 15: (L to R) Mike Girsch, general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals; Bill DeWitt Jr., managing partner and chairman of the St. Louis Cardinals; John Mozeliak, President of Baseball Operations of the St. Louis Cardinals and Mike Schildt, interim manager of the St. Louis Cardinals addressing a change in the manager during a press conference prior to a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium on July 15, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – JULY 15: (L to R) Mike Girsch, general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals; Bill DeWitt Jr., managing partner and chairman of the St. Louis Cardinals; John Mozeliak, President of Baseball Operations of the St. Louis Cardinals and Mike Schildt, interim manager of the St. Louis Cardinals addressing a change in the manager during a press conference prior to a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium on July 15, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

St. Louis Cardinals

The St Louis Cardinals have missed the playoffs the past three seasons. Within that time, the Chicago Cubs have won a World Series and the Milwaukee Brewers were one game away from an NL Pennant. The fanbase there won’t be happy about a fourth straight season with no playoffs and adding Kluber would be a move to help prevent that.

The Cardinals have plenty of young outfielders and young arms to send to the Cleveland Indians in any deal for Kluber. Dakota Hudson for the rotation and Tyler O’Neill for the Indians outfield would represent a nice return for them and not totally hurt the Cardinals in 2019 and moving forward.

For the Cardinals a rotation of Kluber, Miles Mikolas, Carlos Martinez, Jack Flaherty and Luke Weaver can put them right back into contention in the division and the National League. This doesn’t even include Michael Wacha, Adam Wainwright or Alex Reyes, who with all his injuries, may have to move to the bullpen and combine with Jordan Hicks to form a real power back end of a bullpen.

The St. Louis Cardinals have plenty of TV money coming in, so adding Kluber’s salary shouldn’t hurt them next year and moving forward.

MILWAUKEE, WI – SEPTEMBER 04: Miller Park scoreboard during the second game of the final home series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs on September 4, 2018, at Miller Park in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Lawrence Iles/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – SEPTEMBER 04: Miller Park scoreboard during the second game of the final home series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs on September 4, 2018, at Miller Park in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Lawrence Iles/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers bullpened their way to missing the World Series by one game. Part of the reason why they had to bullpen as much as they did is that they didn’t have that stud at the top of the rotation to anchor it. Young arms like Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff may be a part of that rotation, but they still lack that ace to lead that staff.

That ace could be Kluber, if they make the move to add him. Brewers owner Mark Attanasio is aggressive when he believes the team is close, as they added multiple pieces at the trade deadline to try and push them over the top.

The Cleveland Indians and Brewers made the CC Sabathia trade years ago, no reason why they couldn’t make a deal again.

The Brewers have pieces that could help Cleveland. Domingo Santana could play in the outfield right now. Freddy Peralta could be a rotation arm for the Cleveland Indians. Maybe pieces like catcher Jacob Nottingham or pitcher Austin Houser could be of interest as well.

In a wide open National League, the Brewers time is now and a trade with the Cleveland Indians for Kluber could be exactly what they need.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 2: Maikel Franco #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates after hitting a game winning walk-off three-run home run in the ninth inning during a game against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on August 2, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 5-2. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 2: Maikel Franco #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates after hitting a game winning walk-off three-run home run in the ninth inning during a game against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on August 2, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 5-2. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

Philadelphia Phillies

Payroll flexibility? Check. Prospects? Check. Team that may need a couple pieces to get to the playoffs in 2019? Check. The Philadelphia Phillies check all the boxes for a team that could be a match for the Cleveland Indians in a Kluber deal.

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For the Phillies, a top three of Kluber, Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta gives them an excellent top of the rotation. Add in arms like Nick Pivetta, Jarad Eickhoff, Vince Velasquez and Zach Eflin and you have some quality starting pitching depth for a team that just ran out of gas in 2018. The Phillies have some pieces and even if they spend a ton in free agency for Bryce Harper or Manny Machado (or both) adding an arm like Kluber as well, could make just as big an impact.

Prospects like Enyel De Los Santos, Dylan Cozens or players with big leagues experience like J.P. Crawford or Nick Williams could be nice pieces coming back to Cleveland to help fill holes on their roster.

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In the end, if the Cleveland Indians decided to trade Kluber, I think the Cardinals end up winning out. They have plenty of quality to trade, plus they are not in the American League, which i think will play a part in terms of their strategy in dealing him.

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