Did Texas Rangers ‘steal’ Corey Kluber, or did Cleveland Indians move damaged goods?
For the first time in a some time, though he won’t specify how much time, Corey Kluber says he feels like he’s supposed to feel when he’s on top of a pitching mound.
The when doesn’t matter, but in listening to him talk it’s safe to say he didn’t feel right last spring training as the Cleveland Indians were coming off their third consecutive postseason appearance.
Kluber struggled some over his first six starts of the 2019, and in his seventh start his arm was broken by a line drive. While trying to come back, he strained an oblique muscle and was done for the year.
Just after the winter meetings, he became a member of the Texas Rangers for a light-hitting defensive-minded center fielder and a hard-throwing wildly inexperienced reliever.
That price tag wouldn’t appear to befit a two-time Cy Young winner, so it’s not inappropriate to wonder if the Indians sent the Rangers damaged goods.
“The acquisition price built in the risk for a guy who didn’t pitch last year,” general manager Jon Daniels said. “I think if it was just the arm and he had not had the struggles before that, I don’t think the deal happens that way.”
Daniels wanted to make it clear that the Rangers gave up quality pieces. Delino DeShields is one of the game’s fast players and covers as much ground in center field as anyone, and Emmanuel Clase’s 100-mph cutter could develop into one of the game’s best pitches.
But if Kluber’s medical issues, including a bothersome right knee that barked again in 2018, are in the past and his pitching as his full capabilities, the Rangers will have a steal on their hands.
Those seem like significant ifs. Kluber, though, said all is well after two bullpen sessions so far at Rangers camp. He is expected to throw live batting practice twice before he and the other four projected starters are eased into Cactus League games.
The time Kluber missed last season drove him crazy, but it did give him an opportunity to address what ailed his delivery and body.
“It’s one of those things where, when I was battling through some stuff and just trying to stay out there and pitch, things kind of have a tendency to go awry,” Kluber said. “Sitting down and analyzing that stuff and figuring how to correct some of those issues, last summer was unfortunate, but it paid off in that aspect.”
Kluber logged 679 innings, including the postseason, from 2016 to 2018. He famously pitched on short rest during the Indians’ run to the World Series in 2016.
Pitching in October means less recovery time between seasons. The wear and tear gradually mounts.
“I don’t want to say difficult because that’s the goal for every team, to make it to the postseason and do it year after year,” Kluber said. “The work you do in the offseason, the work you do between starts is to prepare you for that. Every pitcher wants to put in that workload.
“Everybody is human, but I think you make adjustments and try to listen to your body. When things are going great, you back off a bit. When there’s an opportunity to push it you push it.”
The Rangers weren’t concerned about the broken right ulna or the left oblique. They identified the right knee, which was surgically repaired after the 2012 season and required a cortisone injection in 2018. It affected his push leg, and the Rangers believe his mechanics suffered as he pitched with it.
They determined the risk was worth the price, including the two years of control left on Kluber’s contract — this season at $17.5 million and a club option at $18 million for 2021.
“If you’re looking at it from their perspective, it’s a pretty high salary, only two years left of contractual control, multiple injuries, the struggles at the beginning of the season,” Daniels said. “I get it. They got quality. Certainly it’s a different price point than coming off his Cy Young years, but I understood why they might be looking to move him.”
Manager Chris Woodward said that Kluber remains determined, saying he has a lot to prove. Perhaps he thought the Indians didn’t get enough for him from the Rangers.
Robinson Chirinos caught Kluber on Saturday for the first time in his career and came away impressed.
“He was awesome,” Chirinos said. “He looked like the same guy I faced two years ago. He’s a guy who has two Cy Youngs and won a lot of games in the past. I just pray he’s healthy and can help this team win.”
Kluber is happy with how he’s feeling a year after a season lost to injury.
“I feel like I’m in a good spot right now and close to where I need to be,” he said. “I don’t know if I can put a timeline on it or a value on it, but I do feel like you throw so many pitches and you go through your delivery so many times that you feel when it’s right and when it’s not. From that aspect I feel good about where I’m at.”
This story was originally published February 15, 2020 at 4:50 PM.
