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Five Reasons the Indians Might Be Thinki
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The Indians sent shockwaves to Ervin Santana Jersey the fan base Monday when it was bantered about that the team was going to have a chat with the New York Yankees about two of their starting pitchers, Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco. The two pitchers combined for 37 wins last year for the Indians as they ran away with the AL Central, only to get swept by the Houston Astros in the ALDS. Some fans have been calling for a change in the rotation as Kluber has had i sues in the last two years in the postseason, and despite two Cy Young awards some think that he's peaked and despite being under team control for three seasons now is the time to try and get a LOT for his services to another team. Today we take a look at some reasons as to why the Indians have the mindset that they do when it comes to making Kluber available, building a case for the reasons that they are listening to teams for his services.1. His Age Kluber will turn 33 years old next season (April 10th, 2019), and while there's been plenty of pitchers that have pitched at a high level well past that age, he's not a young pitcher by baseball standards. The Indians dealt pitcher Cliff Lee at age 30, and he lasted another five seasons in the Majors. C.C. Sabathia was dealt at age 27, but that was due to finances in the Indians knowing they were not going to be able to bring him back. If Kluber was 4-5 years younger, the Indians would likely not be talking to anyone about dealing him, but his age could be a reason why they are willing to at least have a conversation.2. Innings As MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal pointed out on MLB Network today, Kluber over the last five seasons has not only been the Indians workhorse, he's been the most worked pitcher in baseball, Jorge Polanco Jersey throwing more innings than anyone. In those five seasons dating back to 2014, he's thrown 1091.1 innings, including leading baseball with 215 innings thrown this past season. Two seasons ago he threw 33.1 innings in the postseason leading the Indians to game seven of the World Series, and if you add the playoff innings over the last five years, you can up that total inning total to 1136.2 innings. You have to wonder how much longer he can handle the stre s on his body, as the innings have been piling up.3. InjuriesScroll to Continue Kluber has been able to avoid major injuries in his career, but there's been some lingering injuries that have to be a concern for the Tribe even if he does stay with the organization. From Kyle Gibson Jersey an ankle, to knee, to low back, Kluber has fought through the injuries the last couple of seasons, including 2018 when he got a gel injection on his right knee around the All-Star break that pushed him out of appearing in the mid-Summer cla sic. Last August he with an ankle injury, and in May he had to fight through tightne s in his low back. None of these injuries have put him on the shelf for an extended amount of time, though he was put on the DL with the back i sue back in 2017. With the amount of innings he's thrown, it's a testament to Kluber's conditioning that he's not had anything worse to deal with.4. The AL Central If the Indians were in any other division in the Majors, they would likely not be talking to teams about their top two starters, but one thing that actually gives them the freedom to do chat with teams is the awful AL Central. The Tigers, White Sox, Twins and Royals will again have Max Kepler Jersey a tough time matching up with the Indians in 2019, and while some fans think this hurts the Indians as you can't gauge how good they might be, there's nothing that the Indians can do about it, nor will they make excuses for it. If a deal is reached for Kluber, the rotation will still be solid entering next year - Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger, Shane Bieber and a fifth spot that could see it go to Adam Plutko, or (if healthy) po sibly Danny Salazar. The division won't catch up to the Indians this season Kluber or not, so this might be the time for the Tribe to move him and get a bounty for his services.5. The Postseason I sues Kluber carried the Tony Oliva Jersey Indians in the postseson two years ago, throwing three times in the World Series against the Chicago Cubs. Many were flat out stunned last year when he struggled in two starts against the New York Yankees in the ALDS, leading many to think that he was injured in his two starts, but something that the Indians and Kluber denied. This season he again had i sues in his one playoff start in game one against Houston, allowing four runs on six his in 4.2 innings in a game one lo s in Houston. The last two postseason failures for Kluber have led many to think that he is solid when it comes to the regular season when there's nothing on the line, but when the playoffs come, he folds. While it just might be the circumstances, could it be fact that Kluber just outhinks himself in the postseason? Whatever the case, the last two years (plus game seven against the Cubs) in the playoffs has been frustrating seeing Kluber not get the job done.