Dodgers Rumors: Trade Talks for Corey Kluber Heating Up

As the Dodgers’ front office and other MLB front offices begin to discuss trades, the talks for Corey Kluber are beginning to boil.

The Dodgers showed more interest in DJ LeMahieu earlier today and now trade talks for Corey Kluber are beginning to heat up with the Dodgers involved. The Dodgers and Indians have been linked since the start of the off-season and after the Indians extended Carlos Carrasco, they appeared to be more willing to deal Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer.

It’s not yet known who the Dodgers are dangling in trade talks with the Indians but Cleveland is looking for outfield help and the Dodgers have a surplus of outfielders so it’s more than likely that Joc Pederson, Alex Verdugo, or Yasiel Puig would be the centerpiece of a possible trade with the Indians.

Kluber put up another great season for the Indians this year going 20-7 with a 2.89 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP.  He would give the Dodgers the best top three in baseball with Kershaw, Kluber, and Buehler.  The Dodgers would also have arguably the best starting rotation in baseball if they are able to complete a trade for Kluber or even Trevor Bauer.

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The most attractive part about acquiring Kluber is that he is under contract for three more seasons at a very reasonable price.  He is slated to make under twenty million dollars in each of the next three seasons which is a bargain for one of the premier pitchers in baseball.  While Kluber is another dominant regular season pitcher that has a checkered playoff reputation, he has had his fair share of postseason success.

Kluber would give the Dodgers another ace and another starting pitcher who has World Series experience.  If you take a look at the last two winners of the World Series, each team had two horses at the top of their rotation in Verlander/Keuchel and Sale/Price.  A combo of Kershaw-Kluber-Buehler would make the Dodgers the favorites to win the World Series and finally get over the World Series hump.

The Indians are not looking to rebuild, they are looking to retool so the Dodgers would most likely send a starting pitcher back in a potential deal.  Possible candidates are Alex Wood, Kenta Maeda, or Ross Stripling.  With the Dodgers looking to finally end their World Series drought, Andrew Friedman is looking to go big and adding Kluber would definitely be a big move.