Yesterday, we informed you that the Los Angeles Angels were interested in signing veteran Nathan Eovaldi in order to add depth and experience to a rotation that must rely heavily on Shohei Ohtani to be successful.
Already strong with the addition of Tyler Anderson during the offseason, now the Angels are showing interest in another veteran and it is Corey Kluber.
Kluber, 36, is one of the best arms yet to find a taker ahead of next season.
Obviously, it will be Eovaldi or Kluber, because it would be very surprising if the management of the team opts for the two veterans at the expense of the pitchers already installed within the starting rotation of the Angels.
A six-starter rotation is being considered because, while Shohei Ohtani has mentioned wanting to play a bigger role on the mound in 2023, he needs time between starts to take on his role as the hitter of choice.
Last year at Tampa Bay, Kluber won 10 games while pitching a total of 164 innings. This stat is significant considering he launched just over 116 between 2019 and 2021.
The 2017 Cy Young Trophy winner no longer has the stuff of yesteryear, but he proved last season that he can still hold his own.
Corey Kluber has yet to sign a contract for next season mainly due to his age and the risk of injury that characterizes his last years in major league baseball.
Earning $8 million with the Rays in 2022, he could prove a boon to the team as they add him to their rotation on a very short-term deal.
The arrival of a Kluber or an Eovaldi would add to a few new faces at the Angels in anticipation of the 2023 season. Already, Tyler Anderson, Carlos Estevez, Brandon Drury, Hunter Renfroe and Gio Urshela will all be wearing their new uniforms at the training camp.
