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Why Yankees fans can be optimistic about Corey Kluber
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Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
There’s always going to be risk in acquiring a 35-year-old starting pitcher. Father Time is undefeated, and Uncle Injury is the #1 contender. The Yankees are taking on both with the signing of Corey Kluber, who will turn 35 in April, and has only pitched 36 big-league innings since 2018. Grains of salt and caveats abound when discussing what we think Kluber can be this season, but I tend to think that his repertoire provides a reason for optimism.
Power pitchers usually have some transitional period as their fastball dies. Yankee fans should know this better than most we watched CC Sabathia go from a hard-throwing lefty to a cutter/slider reliant fourth starter, who was effective if in short bursts. Zack Greinke has had more success in that transition, moving from a 97 mph fastball in Kansas City to arguably the best junkballer of all time with Arizona and Houston.