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.
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.