At various points in the offseason, sources have said the Dodgers, Padres, Brewers, Yankees and Reds were in contact with the Indians about the possibility of trading for ace Corey Kluber.
Recently, the trade conversations surrounding the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner have quieted to a whisper.
On Sunday, multiple sources said that there is almost no chance Kluber will be dealt before the start of Spring Training. And since Indians pitchers and catchers begin official workouts on Thursday, little time remains for discussions to revive.
Kluber is revered within the Indians organization, and it's believed that the team won't be receptive to active trade conversations during Spring Training. Including club options, Kluber is under team control through 2021. Unless the Tribe plays well short of expectations this year, the next logical opportunity for a Kluber trade is during the '19-20 offseason.
Kluber, 32, is one of only two Major League pitchers (Max Scherzer is the other) to throw 1,000 regular-season innings over the past five years. He has been the Indians' Opening Day starter in each of the past four seasons; at this point, a fifth consecutive assignment is very likely.
Still, the Indians' offseason work is not complete. The team's front office is evaluating possible outfield upgrades. Adam Jones and Carlos González are among the veteran outfielders still available via free agency, but sources say the Indians are not aggressively pursuing either former All-Star at the moment.