1. His Age
Kluber will turn 33 years old next season (April 10th, 2019), and while there’s been plenty of pitchers that have pitched at a high level well past that age, he’s not a young pitcher by baseball standards.
The Indians dealt pitcher Cliff Lee at age 30, and he lasted another five seasons in the Majors. C.C. Sabathia was dealt at age 27, but that was due to finances in the Indians knowing they were not going to be able to bring him back.
If Kluber was 4-5 years younger, the Indians would likely not be talking to anyone about dealing him, but his age could be a reason why they are willing to at least have a conversation.
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