Corey Kluber is a free-agents pitcher the Red Sox should target
It’s no secret that 2020’s Boston Red Sox rotation wasn’t the strongest one they’ve put together in recent times. The fall in pitching talent was largely down to the injury troubles to ace Chris Sale and their other star pitcher in Eduardo Rodriguez, but for the Red Sox it was still an utter disappointment.
With the reset of the luxury tax, Chaim Bloom’s plans to resuscitate this franchise can finally begin and that begins from the mound. Next offseason is going to be a big one for the Red Sox. The 2022 free-agent class is loaded, spearheaded by Francisco Lindor, so there will be plenty of opportunities to get better through the offseason this time next year. This year’s group is a little more limited, however, there is talent there.
This year, there is talent specifically among the pitchers available. For the Red Sox, this is where they should be aiming to strengthen this offseason. The best fit for this? Two-time Cy Young award winner Corey Kluber.
The 34-year-old righty hits the open market after missing most of the 60-game season with Texas due to a torn teres major muscle. This will undoubtedly see his command in free agency drop, but it is Kluber and he’d be worth paying despite this. He should be ready for the season opener and has been one of the best starters in the majors over recent years.
MLB Trade Rumours projected that Kluber would get a one-year, $12 million deal in free agency. That’s something the Red Sox could make work, especially if it’s just a short-term deal. A player of Kluber’s caliber could propel the Red Sox rotation to a different level. This is the type of deal that the Red Sox need to do in order for them to get back to winning ways, and it’s important that they do that sooner rather than later. Otherwise, the pull of Boston in free agency next year could fall off when you’re comparing it to the likes of Los Angeles and the stacked Dodgers.
There’s no denying that Kluber’s been one of the best in the game for years now. His record speaks for itself. Two Cy Youngs, and three All-Star appearances, Kluber dominated teams in the American League for years over his tenure with Cleveland.
His best season came in 2017 when he led the majors with a 2.25 ERA and 0.869 WHIP. He also missed the majority of the 2019 season, as well as last year, but his last proper year, in 2018, Kluber remained as good as anyone in the league, as he pitched 215.0 innings – the most in the AL that season.
He’s a workhorse pitcher and he’s one of the best in the game when healthy. Every player gets injured, and it can be particularly detrimental to pitchers, however if you have a chance to recruit someone as good as Kluber, then you should try and make that happen, especially when it’s a standout team need.