MLB Rumors: San Diego Padres Crashing Corey Kluber Trade Party

There is no clear view on where pitcher Corey Kluber will end up, but there are several teams reportedly interested in the services of the 32-year-old player. The Cleveland Indians continue to listen to offers, and the next one could come from the San Diego Padres.

According to Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com, the Padres and the Indians have engaged in talks on a potential trade for Kluber. Ironically, the Padres were the same team that drafted the pitcher in the fourth round of the 2007 MLB Draft before he was involved in a three-team trade involving the St. Louis Cardinals and the Indians on July 31, 2010.

There is no closure on the rumored trade discussions, but the same report added that three young Major Leaguers from the Padres could be in play. These are outfielders Manuel Margot and Hunter Renfroe and catcher Austin Hedges.

Should this trade materialize, the Indians will likely get one prospect. Anyone from the Padres’ end could be included in the trade except for Fernando Tatis Jr. and MacKenzie Gore.

For now, this trade rumor should be taken lightly since the Indians are likely to demand for more than just prospects. Cleveland remains one of the favorites in the AL Central with Kluber, Trevor Bauer and Carlos Carrasco at the helm of the rotation.

CBS Sports suggested that a trade package involving the three young Major Leaguers would be underwhelming for the Indians. Renfroe may be the only one who makes sense since the Indians are in need of outfielders. The 26-year-old does have five years of team control and has hit 52 home runs with a 107 OPS+ for the last two seasons.

The 24-year-old Margot is loaded with tools, while Hedges, 26, is a standout defensive gloveman who has socked 32 home runs as a catcher the last two years.

If one looks forward to the future for the Indians, the three young players would make sense. However, that could pass if another player would be offered – meaning it may not work if Kluber is in the middle of the suggested trade.

Hence, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees remain as plausible destinations in the offseason should one of them and the Indians are able to come up with a workable deal, most of which was covered in a previous post. The names of Alex Verdugo (Dodgers), Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres (Yankees) have been mentioned so far, but nothing has gone out beyond reported team discussions.