Rays agree to one-year deal with two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber

The Tampa Bay Rays are adding Corey Kluber to their rotation after agreeing to a one-year deal with the right-handed pitcher pending a physical, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Kluber, 35, earned three consecutive All-Star nods and two Cy Young Awards during his time with Cleveland. That streak of dominance was halted when a line drive fractured his arm in May 2019 and kept him out for the remainder of the year. 

Cleveland traded Kluber to the Texas Rangers in December 2019, but he pitched only one inning with the team before a torn muscle in his shoulder ended his 2020 season. Kluber finally made his return to action in 2021 as a member of the New York Yankees and pitched a no-hitter in his ninth start with the team. A week later, Kluber was diagnosed with another shoulder injury that kept him out for three months.

Kluber finished the 2021 season with a 5-3 record in 16 starts with a 3.83 earned run average.

The Rays had the best record in franchise history in 2021, finishing the year 100-62, but lost an American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox in four games. Tampa Bay finished the regular season second in runs scored and allowed the fifth fewest runs.