Another bounce-back pitcher who would fit Phillies

Share

Bounce-back candidates make a lot of sense for a team in the Phillies’ position. The first acquisition of the Dave Dombrowski era, reliever Jose Alvarado, fit that description.

Another pitcher looking to rebound, Corey Kluber, will hold a showcase for teams next Wednesday, according to MLB.com’s Jon Morosi.

There are at least 12 teams interested in Kluber, who has “had a normal winter workout program and has begun to throw off a mound,” per Joel Sherman. The most important thing Kluber can show these teams is that he’s healthy. A fractured forearm and shoulder injury limited him to eight starts combined in 2019 and 2020.

Kluber, 34, is a two-time Cy Young winner who has accomplished a ton during his 10-year career.

In 2018, he went 20-7 with a 2.89 ERA and led the AL in innings pitched.

In 2017, he had the lowest ERA (2.25) and WHIP (0.87) in MLB with the most wins (18). Both years, he had the lowest walk rate in the American League.

In 2016, he led the AL in ERA+.

In 2015, he led the majors in complete games.

In 2014, he went 18-9 with a 2.44 ERA.

His last two years have been forgettable. He made just seven mediocre starts for Cleveland in 2019 before his season was ended by a line drive that fractured his throwing arm. He was traded to the Rangers after 2019 and started the third game of the 2020 season for Texas. Kluber exited after one inning with a shoulder injury and was diagnosed with a torn teres major muscle. That was the only inning he pitched for the Rangers.

Kluber has not shown much of a velocity drop-off from his prime. His fastball averaged 92.2 mph in the eight starts in 2019-20 compared to 92.9 in his most recent Cy Young season.

His best pitch, by far, is his breaking ball, a frisbee pitch that is difficult to make contact with — much less square up — unless it’s hung.

Here are some examples.

If Kluber can show he's healthy and still able to throw his fastball in the 91-92 range during next week's showcase, he would be a logical fit for the Phillies. He probably won't cost a ton. He made $17.5 million last season (before proration) in the final year of his contract. This year, he could be looking at a one-year deal worth $3-5 million with lots of incentives. Depending on the offers, that could make more sense for Kluber than signing a two or three-year deal with a modest AAV.

The Phillies have little rotation depth beyond Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Zach Eflin. Spencer Howard is unproven, and Vince Velasquez has proven to be a No. 5 or 6 starter. They don't just need more depth, they need more reliability.

Like Alvarado, whom the Phillies acquired from Tampa Bay two weeks ago, Kluber is a pitcher coming off of two injury-plagued seasons who was excellent as recently as 2018. There's a possibility his productive days are over, but the Phillies are the sort of team that should seriously weigh that low/medium risk vs. the high reward. Every year, players bounce back and outperform their deal. The Phillies, as they’ve transitioned from rebuilding to spending, haven’t uncovered enough of them.

Subscribe to the Phillies Talk podcastApple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | Art19 | Watch on YouTube

Contact Us