3 Tampa Bay Rays who won’t be back and where they’ll go

3) Rays starting pitcher Corey Kluber – Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles were, perhaps, the most surprising team in baseball this year as they finished above .500 and were next in line for a playoff spot this year.

One thing that they lacked, though, was starting pitching. Most of their staff was young, with the exception of Jordan Lyles, who is not a great pitcher by any stretch but more of an innings eater.

The Orioles need a veteran starting pitcher that could be a good leader for them with some postseason experience and Corey Kluber is just that.

Kluber, who will turn 37 shortly after Opening Day next year, is not the same pitcher that he was when he won two AL Cy Young Awards and was a finalist two more times from 2014 through 2018 but he is still someone that the Orioles could rely on.

For the Rays this year, Kluber’s hit rate was a bit elevated (9.8 H/9) but he still led the majors with his great walk rate (1.2 BB/9) and he was a victim of some bad luck (4.34 ERA, 3.57 FIP).

But for the Rays, they may not be willing to sign him for the $10 million or so that it will take to re-sign him.