Red Sox free agent pitcher Corey Kluber should stay in Boston
Kluber became a free agent after his club option was declined
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has yet to make a coaching staff hire or any front office additions. There are many great minds in the game of baseball, but one suggestion for a special assistant role could be Corey Kluber.
Kluber signed with Boston on a one-year, $10 million deal last offseason. Frankly, it was a disaster as he lost his command and could no longer harness the velocity to get by. This resulted in a 7.04 ERA, giving up 43 earned runs in 15 games played.
His poor performance lead to a demotion to the bullpen and then landed on the IL, spending June until the end of the season out of action. Despite that Kluber was a professional and a positive influence.
The 37-year-old helped Garret Whitlock as he navigated and attempted to become a starter this past season. Kluber offered him advice on how to get the righty thinking more about navigating an at-bat.
“He’ll get on the IPad with me and show me,” Whitlock explained to reporters. ‘This is where the pitch location was, this is the velo, this is what his swing looked like. What would you do next after seeing that?’ Just to be able to help me speed that up during the game, and teach me how to do it myself, while I’m pitching.”
Kluber is a 13-year veteran who dominated the game at the prime of his career. In 2014 and 2017 he won the Cy Young award and was a three time All-Star from 2016-18.
Kluber recognized that Whitlock wants to learn how to be great too.
“Guys kind of talked to me when I was younger (and pointed out) stuff that I was maybe unaware of,” said Kluber. “I think it’s hats off to (Whitlock) for asking, for wanting to learn.”
It’s unknown what’s next for the veteran hurler, but he attended the Pedro Martinez Gala this past weekend, and was asked what the future of his baseball career loos like.
“We’ll see,” Kluber said. “We’ll see what opportunities come about. Still in the decision-making process. If something comes up that works out for us, then I’d love to. We’ll see how it goes.”
If Kluber decides to retire, Breslow would be wise to pick him up and add him as an advisor/assistant or possibly Alex Cora’s coaching staff. Becoming a special assistant would allow him the freedom to remain involved with the team, but have a flexible schedule.
He could make a trip down to Fort Meyers in the spring to not only continue to work with Whitlock, but other starters who want to bend his ear.
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