Rangers Trade for Indians SP Corey Kluber

The Rangers have acquired two-time AL Cy Young award winner Corey Kluber from the Indians, the Rangers announced Sunday.

In exchange for Kluber and cash considerations, outfielder Delino DeShields Jr. and pitching prospect Emmanuel Clase will head to Cleveland. Clase is a 21-year-old right hander who sports a 100 MPH fastball. 

Texas will owe Kluber $17.5 million in 2020. He will earn $18 million in 2021 if he pitches 160 innings next season.

Kluber spent the first nine years of his career with the Indians. He has a 98–58 career record, sporting a 3.16 ERA. Kluber has finished in the top three of the American League Cy Young voting four times, winning the award in 2014 and 2017.

The 33-year-old right-hander is the second starting pitcher to join the Rangers this offseason. Texas signed former Twins starting pitcher Kyle Gibson to a three-year contract on Nov. 27. Gibson and Kluber will pair with Lance Lynn and Mike Minor for what could be one of the American League West's best rotations. 

The Rangers finished third in the AL West in 2019 at 78–84. They have not reached the playoffs since 2016.