Texas Rangers trade with Cleveland Indians for two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber
The Texas Rangers missed out on one of the game’s best players last week at the winter meetings, but on Sunday they acquired one of the game’s best pitchers.
The Rangers will enter spring training with arguably their best rotation in the past decade.
The Rangers acquired two-time American League Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, sending center fielder Delino DeShields and rookie reliever Emmanuel Clase to the Cleveland Indians.
The Rangers also received some cash to help cover a $1 million trade bonus in Kluber’s contract.
Kluber missed most of last season because of injury, but the right-hander is healthy and will join a rotation that includes left-hander Mike Minor and fellow righties Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson and Jordan Lyles.
The four right-handers will help combat a division filled with premier right-handed hitters and potentially give the Rangers a chance to contend for the postseason.
“Before last year Corey was one of the elite pitchers in the game for an extended stretch,” general manager Jon Daniels said. “I think going into camp, on paper this is about as good as we’ve ever had. It sets us up pretty well.”
Conversations with the Indians started before Anthony Rendon signed with the Los Angeles Angels instead of the Rangers. Things picked up Friday, with the addition of Clase in the deal, and was completed late Saturday night.
Lynn and Minor finished fifth and eighth last season in Cy Young balloting, and the Rangers believe they are catching Gibson and Lyles on an upward trajectory in their careers.
Kluber is the third off-season acquisition for the rotation, which will send a group of young starters to the minor leagues to begin the season. Daniels also said he can’t remember having the type of quality rotation depth the Rangers will have for 2020.
But he also said there is work still to be done, and third base remains the priority. Daniels also said the Rangers will explore adding a full-time center fielder, though Danny Santana will receive the majority of the time there if no one is added.
“Danny gives us a lot of flexibility in putting the club together,” Daniels said. “As we sit today, I think Danny would get the bulk of the time.”
Kluber won the Cy Young in 2014 and 2016, and had five straight top-10 finishes in the Cy Young balloting before last season. He made only seven starts in 2019 before landing on the injured list with a broken left forearm after being struck by a line drive May 1.
Kluber, who went to Coppell High School, attempted to return later in the season but suffered a strained left oblique that ended his season.
He told Daniels he is fine physically.
“He’s excited about where he’s at,” Daniels said.
Former Rangers outfielder David Murphy played with Kluber in 2014 and said he undoubtedly is an ace pitcher.
“I remember playing behind Kluber in 2014 and thought this is what a true ace is,” Murphy said. “He’s got the stuff, the competitive fire and the desire to be on the mound in big games.
“His work ethic is off the charts, and he’s awesome teammate. He’s a big piece in what looked to be pretty spectacular rotation.”
DeShields goes the Indians as one of the speediest players in the game and a solid defensive center fielder who is still seeking consistency offensively.
Clase wowed the Indians during an August doubleheader in just his second career appearance. He routinely hits 100 mph with his fastball and rated as one of baseball’s hardest throwers last season, when he opened at Low A Hickory but was in the majors by Aug. 2.
This story was originally published December 15, 2019 at 12:05 PM.
