On December 17, 2019, the Texas Rangers announced the acquisition of two-time Cy Young award winner Corey Kluber from the Cleveland Guardians.
Guardians fans were very unhappy at the time: Kluber had pitched admirably for years with the franchise, and Clase was a reliever, albeit a very good one.
However, there might not be a Guardians fan who tells you they would rather have 36-year-old Kluber today rather than the 24-year-old, controllable Clase.
“Corey Kluber for Emmanuel Clase is one of the most lopsided trades of the last decade. I mean, it’s not as bad as the Verlander trade but it’s bad,” Barstool’s Chris Castellani tweeted.
Corey Kluber for Emmanuel Clase is one of the most lopsided trades of the last decade. I mean, it’s not as bad as the Verlander trade but it’s bad.
— Chris Castellani (@Castellani2014) July 20, 2022
Back then, the Guardians sent Kluber to Texas in exchange for Clase and outfielder Delino DeShields.
It was “the Corey Kluber trade.”
The “Emmanuel Clase Trade”
Well, it’s now the “Emmanuel Clase trade” for Guardians fans and the rest of the league.
Clase went on to have a 1.29 ERA in 2021 and is currently at 1.31: he is as automatic as it gets when it comes to getting key outs.
Clase has blossomed into one of the best closers in the game.
Kluber, on the other hand, pitched just one game for the Rangers in 2020 before suffering a Grade 2 tear of the teres major muscle in the back of his right shoulder.
He had a workout in 2021 and showed he was healthy after missing the vast majority of the 2020 campaign, and ended up pitching for the Yankees last year.
He is currently in the Tampa Bay Rays rotation, with a solid 3.91 ERA in 99 innings.
Texas, however, got nothing out of Kluber, and Cleveland is still reaping the benefits of acquiring Clase, a proven All-Star.
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