Kluber is a Yankee

DeadlySplitter

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Kluber was the easiest potential path to getting an ace pitcher for a couple years. I sure hope the Sox are right here or the Yanks are wrong here and I'm going to hate rooting against him.
 

jon abbey

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Kluber was the easiest potential path to getting an ace pitcher for a couple years. I sure hope the Sox are right here or the Yanks are wrong here and I'm going to hate rooting against him.
Honestly I am not sure anyone else had a chance, Kluber said he only wanted a one year deal to prove himself and I think NY has been after him with Cressey and Blake for months.
 

staz

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The cradle of the game.
Perfect addition for the team that loves to pack the injured list. Not sure what will be a louder: all the lefty bats smoking his 92 mph 'fastball' into the short porch, or that shoulder when it finally supernovas.
 

EvilEmpire

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Yeah, that could definitely happen. I'm happy, but I don't expect more than a $11 million a year pitcher on a one year deal.

Certainly hope for more of course.
 

StuckOnYouk

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I honestly never got the Kluber love this offseason. I mean he could be "good" but is he gonna be that #2 pitcher the Yankees probably need behind Cole? I doubt it.

He'll be 35 when the season starts and he's thrown 40 something innings the last 2 years. In all likelihood I see his ceiling as putting up an ERA somewhere in the 3.50 to 4 range with who knows how many innings.

I hope I'm right though.
 

jon abbey

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Here's a good article about Kluber from a few days ago to show why people are excited about the signing:

"One executive, whose team won't be in Florida to watch Kluber, calls him the classic "buy-low" candidate.

"He might be a middle of the rotation guy to start the season, but you're getting a two-time Cy Young winner," the executive said. "By the end of the year, he could be leading your staff."

Kluber says he actually thinks he's stronger in certain areas after all the rehab, while the rest of his body isn't worn down after two seasons of fluky injuries."

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30697947/pitcher-corey-kluber-hopes-bullpen-session-shows-healthy-2-lost-seasons
 

Sad Sam Jones

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If Kluber is healthy I expect him to still be a good pitcher, but I think the people around the forums who have been using terms like "ace" and "Cy Young contender" or assuming he's worth $30M if he pitches a full season were doing some serious daydreaming. He hasn't been Klubot since June 2018. He had a knee injury at that point which only cost him a week of missed time after the All-Star break, but he was uncharacteristically inconsistent the remainder of the season. He did settle in a little that September but got destroyed in the playoffs. Then there was also something clearly off in April 2019 before the line-drive off his elbow ended his season. I think those observations were also supported by a dip in velocity.

He's a smart pitcher and the sort of competitor I believe will make adjustments as he ages if he's healthy, but I'd also keep my expectations in check for a 35-year-old who come April will have thrown 9 professional innings in the past 23 months.
 

EvilEmpire

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I didn't realize Kluber had been rehabbing/training down at Cressey's facility in Florida. That's good.

The signing might not work out, but it is low risk and won't be for lack of scouting.
 

Saints Rest

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Just keep him away from the cockpit of small planes.

But seriously, reminds me of Saberhagen or Cone signing with the Sox back in the 90s. There will be days when you think the old Kluber is back. Days when you think he’s lost it. And days when he simply is too hurt to play.
 

jon abbey

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Some exciting quotes from Richard Bleier here:

“ The Yankees were among the approximately 25 teams who scouted Kluber’s throwing session at CSP on Wednesday. Bleier wasn’t there for it, but he’s watched Kluber throw numerous bullpens this offseason. They typically work out at the same times and on the same days.

“He’s one of my favorite pitchers to watch throw a baseball, just his delivery and the way he throws a baseball has always impressed me,” Bleier said. “I’ve watched his bullpens and I’ve watched him throw, and he looks very good.”

Bleier added, “I saw him throw the bullpen before Wednesday. He’s Corey Kluber, Cy Young winner, in my opinion, and it’s a matter of staying healthy. The stuff is extremely impressive, what he’s able to do with the baseball is incredible and not a lot of people can do it at all in terms of how he spins the ball and how he moves it.””

https://www.nj.com/yankees/2021/01/inside-look-at-yankees-corey-klubers-extremely-impressive-return.html