*Photo from NBC Sports*
The Cleveland Indians have traded RHP Corey Kluber and cash considerations to the Texas Rangers in exchange for OF Delino DeShields Jr and RHP Emmanuel Clase, the teams announced Sunday. Cleveland is giving Texas $500,000 in the trade to cover half of the $1 million bonus Kluber is owed because of the trade. The Rangers will take responsibility for all the money Kluber is owed on his Indians contract. Indians president Chris Antonetti said that trading Kluber freed up more money to reinvest in the team, and he expects Cleveland to remain competitive without him.
Kluber made just 7 starts for the Indians in 2019 due to a broken forearm and oblique problems. There is a club option for 2021 that because of the trade, will become a vesting option that will take effect if Kluber throws 160 innings and doesn't hit the IL. Kluber is owed $17.5 million in 2020 and $18 million in 2021 if the option takes effect. Kluber has been a tremendous pitcher, finishing in the top 3 of Cy Young voting 4 times, and winning it in 2014 and 2017.
Kluber's last full season pitched was in 2018, where he went 20-7 with a 2.89 ERA and 222 strikeouts in 215 innings pitched. He'll become the ace of an improved Rangers starting rotation, as Kyle Gibson and Jordan Lyles have been brought in this offseason by GM Jon Daniels to compliment veterans Mike Minor and Lance Lynn, both coming off great seasons in 2019.
Deshields Jr is an outfielder entering his 6th major league season and second year of arbitration eligibility. He hit .249 with 4 homers, 32 RBI, and 24 stolen bases in 118 games last year for the Rangers. He's projected to earn $2.4 million from arbitration in 2020. Clase was the Rangers' 30th top prospect before the trade. He's a hard throwing relief pitcher who debuted in the majors in 2019 after speeding through the minors. He had a 2.31 ERA with 21 strikeouts and one save in 21 appearances for the Rangers. The Indians DFA'd Mike Freeman to make room for DeShields Jr and Clase.
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