The Indians don’t seem to have much hope of getting veteran starter Corey Kluber back at any point in the 2019 season. As Ryan Lewis of the Beacon Journal recently reported, Kluber is still limited to doing aquatic exercises as he works to recover from an oblique injury.
That status hasn’t changed in the past few days, leading MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian to tweet that it’d be a surprise to see Kluber back in the regular season. Perhaps a postseason return can’t be ruled out entirely — remember Kyle Schwarber? — but it feels quite unlikely.
Trouble is, there just isn’t much time for Kluber to rebuild his arm strength even if he can get past the oblique issue. As skipper Terry Francona put it, “He’s got a ways to go.” Given that Kluber was already working back from a forearm fracture when he suffered the new injury, it’d be difficult to justify an aggressive build-up.
If indeed Kluber is done pitching for the year, it would mean the Indians won’t have a chance to glean further information before deciding on his club option. On the one hand, given Kluber’s still-recent history of dominance, it’s hard to imagine the team passing on the $13.5MM price tag in favor of $2MM in total buyouts. That’s particularly true with another option year still to come for 2021. On the other, the 33-year-old struggled even before he went down and will now be working back from a completely lost campaign. And the cost is far from insignificant to the budget-watching Cleveland organization.
theland44145
No chance the team declines the option. Willing to pay Salazar about the same on the chance he might be back. If Kluber is healthy this team can imagine the playoffs.
thekid9
Thank you Johnny Superscout
spinach
His comment wasn’t scouty at all.
braves25
@thekid9
How does his comment sound like he is scouting anything at all? He stated facts about the Indians organization and what they have most recently done.
I agree with that they will pick up his option. Although I still wouldn’t be surprised if they traded Kluber or at least dangle him to see what they could get for him.
chalk1973 2
Okay let’s take it easy on him, the kid is only 9 years old.
c.fisher
Troll
Polish Hammer
Willing to pay Salazar about the same? Sure, if $5 million and $13.5 are ABOUT the same…SMH
Show Me Your Tatis
Soooooooooooo glad Preller didn’t trade MacKenzie Gore or Luis Patiño for this guy.
sufferforsnakes
Me, too.
padreforlife
12 games under .500 and Padre fans giving Preller credit for not trading for Kluber
lowtalker1
Untouchables. I’m sure Reyes was a piece of the package though. Now, if padres fans will stop clamoring about Reyes. He is gone. Get over it. You want to suffer for the tribe? Cool turn in your padres stuff and gtfo
Briffle2
Kluber gets traded, he might not take that comeback and have a lost season.
Show Me Your Tatis
Was clearly pitching with diminished stuff even before that happened.
Padres458
No
Bernie's Dander
Exactly. Kluber pitching in the NL West might have been a top 5 Cy Young candidate this year.
Polish Hammer
Soooooooooo glad the trade deadline has passed so we don’t see the idiotic Padres fans suggesting one ridiculous trade after the next….oh wait….
padreforlife
Preller can only make so many bad moves in a year
Tork
Great name man. Nice work
VegasSDfan
Even a broken clock is correct twice a day
Dennid
For this guy? Yup, your moron certification is official.
Wilford Brimley
Now that I’m retired, I like to refer to sitting in the sun on the beach as “aquatic exercises”.
SecsSeksSecks
Hey!!!! What did I tell you about your betiss!? That’s why you’re tired. Now go get your testing supplies before the doctors have to start cutting your legs off one chunck at a time. I’m on to you Wilford. I saw you on Family Guy talking about that time you “struck” your “wife.” Not cool. Not cool. Get off the internet and get yourself together before I call Wikipedia and tell them you faked your own death.
SecsSeksSecks
Man. The Braves pushed hard in a trade for Kluber last off season. I am so glad Cleveland turned them down. How many Cleveland fans wish the trade had happened considering the Indians would have likely gotten multiple top prospects from Atlanta’s loaded farm system? Especially considering that the system is mostly loaded with starting pitching?
The Ghost of Bobby Bonilla
Meh. I think the Indians did good by trading Bauer for that massive package instead. Does Atlanta have any pitching prospects other than Soroka that have actually panned out?
cmtaylor98
Looks like Max Fried, is going to be pretty good, and Foltynewicz still looks to be a quality starter. I don’t know if ATL would have the pieces to make a Kluber deal now, that they would be ok giving up. They still have Pache, Waters, Anderson, Wright, Wilson, and Mueller. But it might take three of those to get that deal done.
padreforlife
Glad Preller didn’t trade Fried oh that’s right he did
Eightball611
Cant predict future…if he was traded how can you tell this injury wpukd have occurred.
Polish Hammer
Exactly, you gotta love the geniuses that live life in hindsight with the would’ve could’ve should’ves. So glad the (insert team here) didn’t trade for this guy because then he wouldn’t have taken a liner off the arm in a Cleveland uniform…
hockeyjohn
Cleveland was looking for major league ready player or players in a Kluber trade last offseason just like the Bauer trade bought them at the deadline. Atlanta did not have that MLB ready piece which is why a trade did not take place with the Braves.
indiansfan44
First his option is 17.5 due to escalators in the contract not 13.5. To some teams that doesn’t seem like much of a difference but for Cleveland it might. Going into the season it seemed like a lock that the option would be picked up unless he was traded mid season but a lot has changed. He had a bad month to start the year but he never had the chance to improve. I still think they pick him up but with Sherman reportedly buying the Royals does that impact payroll? I wouldn’t be surprised if they floated him in trade talks again to see if anyone still would give a solid offer for him.
Polish Hammer
You’re right it’s $17.5mil and the buyout only $1mil not $2mil as posted above.
MadThinker
I am convinced the Tribe will pick up the 2020 option on Kluber.
Nearly $35M in salary already off the books for 2020 in dealing away Bauer & declining options for Kipnis and Otero. Kluber’s performance (or lack of) in 2020 will determine next steps (pick-up of 2021 option, decline 2021 option, trade away during 2020)..
mfm420
i think it’s because if both options are declined, the player gets paid on both (hence the $2 million)
Polish Hammer
Doesn’t work that way
jwk987
There is no 2nd option if the 1st is declined. Contract is void at that point.
RedSox4Life4ever
Just looked it up and you’re correct. The original option was $13.5M, but when he had already achieved all his Cy Young award escalators it bumped it the $17.5M. These escalators had bumped up this year’s salary too. When Kluber achieved these escalators initially that’s when all the original trade rumors started because he became more expensive.
jwk987
Anyone remember what Kluber’s ERA was in May 2017 whan he went down with a strained back? Yes it too was over 5. When he came back he pitched himself to.a Cy Young!
antsmith7
They should have traded him to the Padres.
Polish Hammer
Would’ve could’ve should’ve …didn’t. move on!
jwk987
That would be too weird ,Corey going back to the Padres.