Despite general manager Scott Harris saying the Giants were interested in signing a left-handed pitcher in order to balance out a righty-heavy rotation, they aren’t ignoring a recent showcase in which Corey Kluber pitched in front of around 25 teams.
The Giants were among the teams in attendance at the two-time Cy Young Award winner’s showcase Wednesday, KNBR’s Mark Sanchez reported, citing a source.
Kluber’s recent session, as ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported, showed his velocity topping out at 90 mph, which is a few mph higher than his previous session but well below his prime Cy Young campaigns in 2014 and 2017.
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The showcase took place at pitching guru Eric Cressey’s training facility in Florida.
Kluber was limited to just 35 ⅔ innings in 2019 with the Cleveland Indians where he posted a 5.80 ERA and 1.70 WHIP. He fractured his arm after getting hit by a line drive and had another setback when he suffered an abdominal injury during his rehab. He only pitched in one inning for the Texas Rangers in 2020 after battling shoulder issues.
His 2018 season was strong with Cleveland, earning the third-place spot in Cy Young Award voting after boasting a 2.89 ERA with 222 strikeouts in 215 innings.
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San Francisco Giants
Kluber could be an intriguing candidate for the Giants, who in recent years have liked the idea of a buy-low option. Harris said on Sirius XM’s MLB Network Radio on Tuesday that Giants pride themselves in finding success in undervalued starters.
Kluber earned three All-Star selections across his 10-year career and will provide value to any rotation both in production -- if he remains healthy -- and in a veteran/mentoring role to younger pitchers.