Cooooooooool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool:
Next order of business for the #Dodgers is Corey Kluber.
Per Source: #Dodgers and #Indians are once again discussing a trade centered around Corey Kluber. One rival executive told me: “I’d be blown away if Dodgers don’t get Kluber.”— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) December 21, 2018
An excellent and versatile lineup, a deep and killer bullpen, and a rotation that goes Clayton Kershaw, Corey Kluber, Walker Buehler, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Rich Hill (with Kenta Maeda and Ross Stripling as the 6 and 7)? I just shake my head. It’s fine. Whatever. They also still have a loaded farm system, too.
Although it is notable that if the Dodgers add Corey Kluber, they will be up against the luxury tax, I still do not buy that they are actually going to be bound by that number. So, no, I don’t think adding Kluber would necessarily preclude the Dodgers from going after Bryce Harper. Instead, it would just make them more loaded.
One interesting thing to note: in yesterday’s trade with the Reds, the Dodgers picked up prospects Jeter Downs and Josiah Gray. Given that the Reds have been among the teams talking to the Indians about Kluber and Trevor Bauer, I can’t help but wonder whether the Dodgers knew that one or two of those prospects were ones that the Indians coveted. Throw in the fact that the Dodgers sent the Reds a starter, Alex Wood, in the deal, and it would not at all be surprising if this trade – among other things – precedes a Kluber acquisition.
Also, if the Indians absolutely insisted on outfield prospect Alex Verdugo in the deal, that would be all the more reason to suspect the Dodgers now plan to add Kluber *AND* Bryce Harper.
Neat!