The Indians have received inquiries on right-handed starter Mike Clevinger from teams like the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, according to former Athletic reporter Robert Murray.
#Indians’ Mike Clevinger drawing trade interest, sources said. Among teams with interest: #Dodgers, #Padres. Asking price said to be “crazy high.”
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) December 19, 2019
No deal is imminent, as the Indians have every right to have a “crazy high” price for Clevinger.
The 29-year-old followed up breakout seasons in 2017 and 2018 with a dominant 2019. Clevinger missed some time due to injury, but he posted a 2.71 ERA and 2.49 FIP in 21 starts while also boasting a 12.1 strikeout per nine innings ratio.
Clevinger was especially dominant over the last three months. He posted a sub-2.00 ERA across 11 starts in July and August, holding opposing hitters to a .576 OPS against in August. He capped the season with a 2.70 ERA in September despite giving up six runs in his final start of the year against the Washington Nationals.
The Indians would have to be totally overwhelmed in order to trade Clevinger.
One of the reasons that they parted with two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber is the depth of their rotation, which is currently anchored by Clevinger and Shane Bieber.
Simultaneously, the Dodgers have been reluctant to part ways with top prospect Gavin Lux in any of the deals they have been exploring. The Padres have plenty of up-and-comers in their pipeline, but they are also hesitant to deal arm talent such as MacKenzie Gore and Luis Patino.
The Indians are assessing all angles as they look to cut salary, but Clevinger is estimated to make just $4.5 million this season, and he still has two more years of arbitration after 2020. A trade is unlikely.
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