Cleveland Indians: The Corey Kluber and Mike Clevinger deals look great in hindsight
By Chad Porto
The Mike Clevinger and Corey Kluber deals were met with some (a lot) of backlash from fans but both look like great moves due to injuries.
The San Diego Padres took a big hit to their playoff chances yesterday when Mike Clevinger left the game after one inning and underwent an MRI due to “bicep tightness”. Sometimes a muscle tear can mimick tightness, so there is some concern that the former Cleveland Indians pitcher may be done for the year, though as of right now there has been no word on Clevinger’s injury stats.
The Indians shipped him off at the trade deadline for a great collection of prospects and Major league ready players. The Tribe got back pitcher Cal Quantrill, outfielder Josh Naylor, and catcher Austin Hedges, along with three minor league prospects in shortstop Gabriel Arias, left-hander Joey Cantillo and shortstop Owen Miller.
Mike Clevinger complained of biceps tightness, Padres manager Jayce Tingler said. Clevinger was removed after 1 inning today, in his first start after a previous bout of biceps tightness. Padres awaiting results of MRI.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) September 23, 2020
The injury for Clevinger makes the Indians trade of him look even better in the light of day. If Clevinger does have a serious injury that’ll require surgery, who knows what he’d need, how long he’d be out or even what he’d look like when he returns.
That makes the Indians decesion to trade him sooner rather than later an even better move. A decesion that paid off for them again, early this year, when the team traded franchise icon Corey Kluber to the Texas Rangers. The team got back Delino DeShields and right-handed reliever Emmanuel Clase. Clase was suspended for PED’s shortly after the trade but DeShields has been a needed piece of the lineup due to the inability of the team’s own outfield players to produce.
While the trade was criticized at the time, Kluber tore his teres major muscle in his shoulder in his debut with the Rangers. He may not be ready to return to start the 2021 season at this rate.
Despite Clevinger’s time in Cleveland ending on a very bad note, we at Factory of Sadness wish Clevinger, and the (forever) King of the North Kluber the best in their recoveries and hope to see them toeing the rubber in 2021.
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