Although right-hander Corey Kluber has been one of the most successful starters in recent memory, it’s not as if his he was a can’t-miss prospect who was expected to turn into the two-time American League Cy Young winner he became. Kluber entered the pros as a fourth-round pick of the Padres in 2007, but he wasn’t lights-out at preventing runs at the lower levels of the minors with them during his time with the franchise. The Padres eventually deemed Kluber expendable when they sent him to the Indians in a July 2010 three-team trade that also involved the Cardinals. The headliners then were outfielder Ryan Ludwick (he went from the Cardinals to the Padres) and righty Jake Westbrook (the Indians shipped him to the Redbirds). Little did anyone know Kluber would turn into the most valuable player in the deal.
If we go back a decade, Ludwick was amid a rather impressive run with the Cardinals, largely because of a 5.3-fWAR campaign in 2008 in which he posted a jaw-dropping 151 wRC+. While he fell back to earth from there, the Padres – who were playoff contenders in 2010 – expected him to at least serve as a solid regular in their uniform. But the Padres, despite winning 90 games that year, didn’t end up making the playoffs, and they never got much value from Ludwick. He slashed a weak .228/.301/.358 (86 wRC+) over 664 plate appearances in a Padres uniform in 160 games before they sold him to the Pirates in July 2011.
Ludwick’s subpar production in San Diego makes it all the more unfortunate that the team said goodbye to Kluber, who later evolved into one of the top starters of the past several years. Kluber came into his own in 2013, his first full season in the majors, and proceeded to post a sterling 2.96 ERA/2.89 FIP with 9.91 K/9 and 1.86 BB/9 across 1,238 2/3 innings through 2018.
As mentioned, Kluber took home a pair of Cy Youngs during his halcyon stretch. He also earned three All-Star nods, ranked 10th among all qualified starters in ERA, and helped the Indians to four playoff berths and three AL Central championships. Not bad for someone who was unheralded when the Indians got him. Westbrook, whom the Indians gave up, was quite good in their uniform at times, and he did enjoy success in St. Louis, but that’s nonetheless a trade that Cleveland would make again in light of how much Kluber blossomed as a member of the club.
However, now 34 years old, Kluber is no longer part of the team with which he broke out. After a disappointing, injury-ruined 2019, the Indians sent Kluber and his waning team control (he has a guaranteed one year, $18.5MM left on the five-year, $38.5MM pact the Indians gave him in 2015) to the Rangers for reliever Emmanuel Clase and outfielder Delino DeShields. It has never come off as an overwhelming return for Cleveland, especially in light of Clase’s recent 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. Then again, Kluber didn’t look like a special pickup when he joined the Indians, and look how he panned out. Regardless of what happens with Clase and DeShields, you can’t argue with what the Indians got from Kluber when he was in their rotation. For the Padres, though, he’s a star who got away.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
paddyo furnichuh
I did not remember correctly that the Friars were contenders in 2010. I would’ve guessed closer to 2000 as the last time they were playoff contenders. Maybe Dodger fanship bias, or maybe I’m just old.
Afk711
They had a really random good season in 2010 and should have won the west.
LouisianaAstros
When SD has pitching they can be a tough team.
Their problem is what type of player is best suited for that ballpark.
Adrian Gonzalez had some years there but it was his patience at the plate more than anything.
Regarding my first sentence that is why the Kluber trade really hurt them.
Kluber gave them an ace. At least the ability to become one.
He would have been elite pitching in that ballpark.
lowtalker1
The ballpark plays more fair now. They brought all the fences in. It’s not that giant pitchers paradise it was 15 years ago
LouisianaAstros
One of the more unique ballparks in baseball
I don’t think they had any idea what they created. Unlike SF with right field they didn’t make up for it.
lowtalker1
Why did they bring the fences in? It’s right near the San Diego bay
At night the marine layer would push the ball down but now there is less issue.
padreforlife
The Cooler Adrian did nothing down stretch and was always part of teams in end that disappointed
Jasona9
Paddy0875, That season Bud Black won the NL Manager of the year! The Padres overachieved all season, but hit a major slump after Jerry Hairston Jr. went down with an injury. The SF Giants won the NL West on the last game of the season, and went on to win the World Series. Today two Wild Card Teams from each league make the playoffs. In 2010 there was only one Wild Card Team per league. If there were two THAT year the Padres would have been in the tournament….regardless of how poorly Ryan Ludwick played. As a Padre he was Ryan Dudwick!
padreforlife
If is not relevant
Vladguerrerojr20
The padre? They’ve let a few get away (Rizzo,A-Gon, Grandal, Alomar). They’ve done a pretty good job at flipping the script though this rebuild. (Tatis Jr., Paddack, and almost Luis Castillo). Their farm system is absolutely loaded now too. Man I miss baseball. Normally us baseball junkies have NBA, NHL and NFL in the offseason which helps with the MLB withdrawal, sort of like a baseball methadone. Now we are forced to get by on mlbtr, old MLB re-runs and baseball movies. Go Jays.
LouisianaAstros
Adrian Gonzalez got away from the Rangers.
Rizzo came in the trade from Boston.
I guess you could say he got away but truthfully it was a horrible trade on the Red Sox end because they ended up trading Gonzalez 1 and 1/2 years later.
Both Alomar’s
Roberto and Sandy came up with the Padres.
Vladguerrerojr20
Oh yea, you’re right. I also forgot Dereck Lee.
LouisianaAstros
Was incorrect.
It was the Marlins who originally drafted Adrian Gonzalez.
Traded him to the Rangers.
Two franchises decided he wasn’t good enough.
Rangers was because of Mark Texiera though.
But I wouldn’t say he got away from SD.
They just couldn’t afford him.
Vladguerrerojr20
Yea I was referring to Roberto, I forgot about Sandy.
bradthebluefish
The Red Sox likes Gonzalez, but they had to trade him in order to get rid of Crawford, Beckett, and company.
sdryder278
Gonzalez got a away from the Marlins guy…
Javia
Clase was also signed and later traded by the Padres.
uknotro
Just wait til Madison Gore is ready…
Paddack
Gore
Patino
Lamet
Davies
Luchessi
Richards
Quantrill
That’s a hell of a roster of SP.
MikeEmbletonSmellsBad
Who’s Madison Gore?
bluejays92
MacKenzie’s sister.
SAM’s
By far one of the best comments. Lol
Vladguerrerojr20
For real, they have some good position prospects almost big league ready too (Trammel, Abrams, Campusano). I’m a jays fan but I really want to see the pads take that division title from the dodgers. The Reds have a nice looking rotation as well but they probably have a shorter window, they look pretty solid this year though. The padres look like they can be contenders for a lot longer though with their farm system and young stars.
Javia
There is even more behind that in the pipeline. The pitching future looks very bright in San Diego! Now if they could just graduate another offensive threat or two from their minor league system.
Get Off My Mound
*MacKenzie Gore.
Its loaded with potential, yes, but by no means a foregone conclusion it will be elite or even good. Too many injury and consistency questions surrounding that group.
Javia
Lucchesi and Davies give regular innings with average to good results. Paddack just had a great rookie year and looks like a TOR unless he gets injured or something unforseen happens. That means the Padres only need 2 of the 5 remaining to produce. If any of the 5 live up to their potential the Padres will have an awesome rotation.
Afk711
Top 3 should be good. Beyond that is nothing spcial.
Javia
Paddack, Lamet, Gore and Patino all have #1 or #2 starter potential and ability. Richards was one of the top 10-20 starters in mlb before he got hurt. Now he is finally healthy and his stuff is back. Even Quantrill pitched to a 3.32 ERA before he fell apart in the last month of the year last year. Really only 2 of those 8 guys have less than top 3 ability.
Afk711
Your problem is it doesn’t always work out that way with pitchers living up to the hype. We have heard about Lamet’s stuff for a long time. He needs to go out and produce now. Quantrill has been underwhelming since he was drafted and is no where near even a #3 at this point. “Richards was a top 20 pitcher before his injury”, yeah when he blew out his knee 6 years ago. Padres have a long way to go and their future has bern overhyped
LouisianaAstros
Richards came back after the injury and pitched well.
When he is on he is one of the toughest pitchers in the game.
Interested in what happens with him.
Might end up becoming a RP. Could extend his career and get him paid again.
Javia
Richards pitched 168.2 IP with a 2.61 ERA in 2014 when he tore his knee. It didn’t affect him that badly since he pitched 207.1 IP with a 3.65 ERA the next year in 2015. He tore his UCL in 2016. Instead of Tommy John, he got a PRP injection. It didn’t work. He finally got TJ surgery in 2018. He is now healthy. Even when he was injured, he put up ERA’S of 2.34, 2.28 and 3.66 in 2016, 17 and 18. Granted he only pitched about 140 innings total over those 3 years, but still that is pretty damn good. As far as Lamet and “heard about his stuff for a long time”, maybe you should know that he has 1 YEAR OF EXPERIENCE. This will be his second year. Yeah, it’s crazy he hasn’t figured it out yet.
LouisianaAstros
With Richards it is his movement.
If he still has that he could still pitch.
I would take movement in the low 90’s over straight pitches in the upper 90’s.
Javia
He is back to throwing 94-97 with his FB. His breaking balls are back to having literally top of the scale rotation.
Afk711
It doesn’t matter how Richards comes back since he is a free agent after 2020. He is not a long term piece yet. I didn’t say it was bad Lamet hasn’t broken out yet. But he better within the next 2 years. As of right now the idea he can be a top 2 starter is wishful San Diego thinking.
LouisianaAstros
It isn’t the velocity on his fastball
It is the movement more than anything.
The movement can also gets him in trouble.
His pitches dance.
Javia
You could say the same thing about Vlad Guerrero Jr. right now. He has had 1 year. He hit .272/.339 with 15-HR last year. If he doesn’t break out next year should we just figure him for a .270, under 20-HR hitter?
Afk711
LOL Lamet is turning 28 in July. Vlad Jr is 21.
Javia
Lamet got a late start to his career and had to have TJ surgery. So what? They both have 1 year of mlb experience. Unless you are trying to say that pitchers cannot break out in their late 20’s? Jacob DeGrom anyone?
He won’t be Jake DeGrom, but he can become a TOR if given a chance. Closing the book on a guy with 1 year of exp. and league average overall results is premature. Especially when his strikeout numbers are so impressive.
Afk711
Jacob DeGrom became a top pitcher in his first taste of big leauge action. Lamet is not Degrom lol Padres fans and their astronomical hopes.
Javia
I just said he will not be Jake DeGrom. Right there, first sentence of the second paragraph. I am sorry I cannot highlight it for you.
I am just going to stop talking because you are obviously not listening while misquoting me and not bothering to respond to my argument. You are all mouth, no ears and no brains. I get it. I will no longer argue with a brick wall. Stand strong. May your mortar never wash away with the rain.
Javia
FYI Afk711, IXL Language Arts has some great pre-K and kindergarten reading comprehension activities that you can do online. Since you seem to need help with your reading abilities.
Afk711
You edited the comment but go off lol.
MikeEmbletonSmellsBad
Ad hominem Javia
hOsEbEeLiOn
They had their hits and misses.
Trevor Hoffman from the Marlins, Phil Nevin had a career revival with them, Ryan Klesko they stole from the Braves, Andy Ashby.
padreforlife
Trea Turner and Max Fried can add to list
dpsmith22
straight salary so trade that will cost the Indians a playoff spot and the closing of their window.
Ejemp2006
The Indians are good at developing pitchers. I wouldn’t count them out just yet. Also, they could get Puig when the price comes down.
dpsmith22
Counting on Puig? C’mon man. I like the Indians but the division was too tight to let your ace go, let alone in a salary dump.
MikeEmbletonSmellsBad
“The Padre who got away”
There’s a lot of those. Next up is Luis Urias and Xavier Edwards.
And FWIW the Kluber trade only looks bad in hindsight. No one knew who he was when he was traded and that trade filled a need for a contending team, at least in theory.
LouisianaAstros
Perfect for the 1990s.
Baseball has changed. Especially recently.
For a market like SD. You need production from the cheap players.
The front office in SD has to value minor league talent more than others.
DarkSide830
? how is SD a small market? everyone out here wanting small market pity these days.
LouisianaAstros
Padres are locked in because of the Angels and Dodgers to the North and Arizona to the east.
Baseball is all about how many houses can you get your local games in and how much the cable companies will pay for it.
SD has a budget.
Like I have said numerous times on here the issue is that both the Dodgers and Yankees care about their farm systems.
Both are producing talent to play on their major league team.
Makes the minor league even more important for a team like the Padres
Young players are cheap…
If you can get 4-5 players to produce at a high before free agency you can then throw money to fix holes on your roster.
This is where SD is at
dpsmith22
Not to mention, trade away your FA mistakes, take on the money, and get prospects in return. More than 1 way to build a farm.
lowtalker1
It’s a low mid market. In theory it would be the middle of the pack, but it’s a giant military town. There are three marine corps bases and I could not count how many navy are within San Diego. If it was not a military town with that population then things would be different
gson
W/R to seeing what Kluber could become.. the Indians did.. they did with Carrasco.. they did with Clevinger…
They may be more than pleased with Logan Allen.. a Boston draftee, acquired by the Padres in the Craig Kimbrel deal.. and later traded to the Tribe with Franmill..
Trades have been a strong part of building the Indians..
bucketbrew35
“W/R to seeing what Kluber could become.. the Indians did.. they did with Carrasco.. they did with Clevinger…”
In all fairness Carrasco is great but Cliff Lee was phenomenal for the Phillies after that trade. I make it ten times out of ten for his World Series performance alone. Carrasco was also highly touted at the time of the deal. But you have to give up something of value to get something of value.
hyraxwithaflamethrower
Every team has stories like this. It’s only a problem if it keeps being one-sided against a team.
Dom2
Just part of the game. They also stole Tatis,
MikeEmbletonSmellsBad
Who will already have 2 full years of service time this November despite only playing in 84 major league games.
DarkSide830
and what, that means he’s worthless?
MikeEmbletonSmellsBad
No, it means he’s worth less than he would be if Preller hadn’t been a moron and called him up early.
hyraxwithaflamethrower
Preller isn’t prescient. Nobody could have foreseen his injuries or the Covid outbreak. And I don’t think the calling him up early argument is that solid, as he was clearly ready for the majors in his limited sample size.
MikeEmbletonSmellsBad
But people did foresee him having an extra year of control if Preller waited 2 measly weeks to call him up. Even if we couldn’t foresee his injuries or the covid outbreak the Padres had nothing to lose by doing that.
“… as he was clearly ready for the majors in his limited sample size.”
It’s not about ready or not ready, it’s about maximizing long-term utility. Everyone knew Kris Bryant was ready 5 years ago, for instance. But the Cubs waited to call him up because a full season of prime veteran Bryant is worth more than 2 weeks of rookie Bryant. As a GM, you are a steward of your organization. And not getting the extra year on Tatis was a dereliction of duty.
padreforlife
Precisely Preller should be fired just for forget other blunders.
padreforlife
Along with 18 errors last year in 1/2 season calm down with stole. Can guy play 1 full season before we stole him
Jasona9
Dom2, The Padres didn’t steal Tatis…..They PAID to steal him! Don’t forget the Padres sent 38M to Chicago to offset James Shields’ contract..
padreforlife
Don’t try logic with Padre they prefer fantasy
The Ghost of Bobby Bonilla
Man have the Indians robbed San Diego over the years. Kluber. Sandy Alomar. Roberto Alomar. Brad Hand.
That means Franmil Reyes is headed to the Hall of Fame.
Chief Wahoo Lives
Actually, the Indians did not get Roberto Alomar from the Padres, he signed with the Indians as a free agent many years after leaving the Padres.
The Indians did however get Carlos Baerga from the Padres as part of the Joe Carter for Sandy Alomar, Carlos Baerga, Chris James trade. Baerga did not have as long of a career as Roberto Alomar, but he was great for the Indians for about 5 years. An All Star player.
Vladguerrerojr20
The Bluejays got Roberto Alomar along with joe Carter from San Diego, he signed with the Indians as a free agent. The Pads received useful players(Tony Fernandez and Fred McGriff) in return so They didn’t get fleeced or anything, but Carter and Alomar were in the starting lineup for back to back World Series championships for Toronto.
LouisianaAstros
Every team has bad trades.
Cleveland was given Kenny Lofton by the Astros because the Astros needed a catcher and because they were able to snake Steve Finley among others from Baltimore in the Glenn Davis trade
But the Astros ended up giving Steve Finley to the Padres a couple of years later in one of the biggest trades in MLB history.
We did get Derek Bell back who was a main part of the Killer Bees 1990’s version.
Baseball Franchise were stupid in the 1990s IMO.
Traded and gave away way too much talent
Chief Wahoo Lives
The Indians obtained Joe Carter from the Cubs along with Mel Hall and one or two other players. I can no longer remember all of the players that were involved in that trade between the Indians and Cubs. As recently as 5 years ago I could have named off all of the players involved in that trade, but age is catching up to me I guess? I believe that the Indians also got pitcher Don “The Rock” Schulze from the Cubs as part of the trade?
The Cubs got Rick Sutcliffe from the Indians. I think that George Frazier was part of the trade too along with one or two others. Maybe Otis Nixon may have been involved?
Sutcliffe helped the Cubs at the time of the trade. I think that he won all but one regular season game for the Cubs that first season, he was dominant for the Cubs that year.
Joe Carter and Mel Hall (especially Carter) helped the Indians for several seasons.
The Indians then traded Carter to the Padres for Sandy Alomar, Carlos Baerga, Chris James and maybe one other player?
Sandy Alomar and Carlos Baerga helped the Indians get to the 1995 World Series as well as playing very well in other seasons.
The Padres eventually traded Joe Carter and Roberto Alomar to Toronto for Tony Fernandez and Fred McGriff as was mentioned by someone else above.
The trades involving Joe Carter benefited 4 different teams during different seasons.
I wonder how many other MLB trades would have involved that many good players as the ones involving Joe Carter, and helped that many teams revolving around one player as with Carter?
LouisianaAstros
One of the players you mentioned.
McGriff
Yankees
Blue Jays
Padres
Braves
To keep this about the Padres
Sheffield
Brewers
Padres
Marlins
Dodgers
Braves
Believe he left Atlanta as a FA
Yankees
Tigers
bravesfan
Fun article… to think, cards could have gotten him in this trade or maybe the padres kept him and it all clicked while he was with them. Funny how one small thing can happen and suddenly it changes your franchise history
goldenmisfit
This is the difference between great franchises such as the Yankees, Dodgers and Red Sox and franchises who never make it such as the Padres. You never hear this happening to the great franchises.
stan lee the manly
Well this is just plain not true. All teams make bad trades, the big three you just named can just afford to cover it up by buying replacement players in free agency much better than the rest of the MLB.
The Yankees traded away Fred McGriff and Willie McGee. Red Sox traded away Babe Ruth, Jeff Bagwell, and Anthony Rizzo. Dodgers traded away Paul Konerko and Pedro Martinez. And that’s just the ones I could pull off of the top of my head.
dmarcus15
Ludi had the Albert factor, seen a ton of fastballs that year and his stats were inflated.