According to MLB Insiders Jon Heyman and Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers are exploring a trade for Indians RHP Corey Kluber.
The market for the 33-year-old Cy Young Award winner is heating up, with the Padres, Dodgers and Rangers seeming to be the most engaged.
As of Saturday, Ken Rosenthal has reported the Angels are now OUT on Kluber, slimming the field a tad more for potential suitors.
Dodgers, Angels, Padres are believed to have shown interest in Kluber. @Ken_Rosenthal mentioned Rangers. Interesting Dodgers thought be involved since rumors with them had centered on Lindor.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 14, 2019
#Dodgers also have been in mix for Kluber, sources say. Unclear where they currently stand.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 15, 2019
Kluber had an injury-plagued 2019 season in which he only pitched in 7 games, but in 2018, he went 20-7 in 215 innings with 222 strikeouts, 34 walks, and a 2.89 ERA.
Kluber missed most of 2019 with a broken forearm and was eventually shutdown from his rehab assignment after suffering an oblique injury.
The right-hander will be paid $17.5 million for the 2020 season, and then has a club option for 2021 for $18 million, which in all likelihood will be declined by the Indians, a historically frugal team.
Kluber’s definitely shown some signs of age-related decline in his brief 2019 campaign, where his BB/9 rate was his worst of his career. However, if he can return to 2018 form, the Dodgers would be getting a certified star to go along with Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw.
He was selected to the All-Star team in three consecutive years between 2016-2018, and won the Cy Young Award in both 2014 and 2017.
Heyman also reported that the Dodgers still remain more focused on SS Francisco Lindor, (), but the team is certainly still interested in adding a starting pitcher after missing out on Gerrit Cole.
Along with Kluber, the Dodgers still have strong interest in Madison Bumgarner and also in bringing back 2019 Cy Young runner-up Hyun-Jin Ryu.
–David Rosenthal is a writer and contributor for Dodgers LowDown. Follow him on twitter @_TherealDRose
(Photo Credit: Mark Cunningham/Getty Images)