Red Sox News: Free-agent pitcher Corey Kluber’s impressive showcase
Corey Kluber should be a Red Sox target after an impressive showcase
Corey Kluber held his long-awaited showcase this morning in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida with representatives from roughly 25 different major league teams. The veteran right-hander looked sharp and while he threw only 30 pitches, that was enough for many scouts to evaluate his arm strength and deem him worth the gamble. The Boston Red Sox have been known to be interested in the Massachusetts resident since he became a free-agent and playing close to home might be a factor that leads to his ultimate decision during uncertain times.
Nearly 25 teams showed up at Corey Kluber's showcase today, and scouts came away impressed. His fastball sat 88-90 -- and he's got more velocity in the tank as he builds toward spring training. Kluber threw 30 pitches, including all of his off-speed stuff. Strong market expected.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 13, 2021
The fact that so many scouts from varying teams attended Kluber’s showcase should come as no surprise. At the age of 35, one might expect that the veteran is looking to latch on with a team with a shot at going the extra mile. If that is the case, some of the teams that had attended the bullpen could likely be ruled out.
Teams with little hope of contending next season sent scouts from their organizations to see how Kluber has managed to progress from his several unrelated injuries over the last two years. While 25 teams might be showing interest at the moment, it is a fair assumption that most organizations are doing their due diligence. The number of eventual suitors will likely slim down a great deal over the course of the coming weeks. Now that evaluators have been able to see what Kluber could be capable of for the upcoming season, the sweepstakes have officially begun.
Backtracking to the Red Sox’s interest, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi had mentioned that Boston had been expressing interest all the way back at the beginning of December. MLB Trade Rumors had predicted at the conclusion of the season that Kluber would ultimately settle on a one-year pact worth $12 million.
Among teams with confirmed interest are the Tigers, Twins, Cubs, Mets, and plenty of others. While MLBTR has been pretty accurate with their predictions as of late, Kluber appears to be a hot commodity at present, so bidding could escalate to a point where several teams are no longer in the running.
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Red Sox management is well aware of the pressing need to find a solid anchor in any way, shape, or form. Boston’s takeaways from Kluber’s session today are unknown but given the widespread positive reviews to this point, it is very likely that Red Sox counterparts would agree with the masses. With Buster Olney’s recent mention of Boston’s plan to make a flurry of moves before Spring Training, the Red Sox are most likely going to take their oft-noted “interest” a step further.