While the Los Angeles Dodgers went into the offseason with apparent needs at catcher and second base, they were also linked to multiple starting pitchers. With the Cleveland Indians reportedly open to moving Trevor Bauer, Corey Kluber and Yan Gomes, they emerged as an ideal trade partner.
However, the Washington Nationals wound up acquiring Gomes, and several weeks would pass before the Dodgers found their answer at catcher in the form of Russell Martin. Although the Indians shed some salary but also signed Carlos Carrasco to a contract extension, they continued to pursue trades involving Bauer and Kluber.
The Dodgers and San Diego Padres have been the teams most prominently been linked to trade rumors involving Kluber. According to Jon Morosi of MLB.com, both teams remain in discussions with the Indians:
The Indians and Padres have been in contact regarding a possible Kluber trade since the New Year began, although no deal was close as of Friday night, sources said. A separate source said the Dodgers have remained involved in recent trade discussions with the Indians regarding Kluber.
Cleveland is believed to be seeking a haul similar to what the Chicago White Sox received when they traded Chris Sale. That netted them former top prospect Yoan Moncada, another elite young talent in Michael Kopech, and two additional prospects.
It should be noted Sale was 27 years old and was under team control for three seasons at the time of being trade. Kluber is 33 but also has three years remaining on his current deal. Two of those are team options, valued at $17.5 million for 2020 and $18 million for 2021.
While the Dodgers have already moved Matt Kemp and Yaisel Puig, they still have Alex Verdugo as an option to satisfy the Indians’ reported desire to acquire a Major-League ready outfielder in a potential trade for Bauer or Kluber.
