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Report: Red Sox targeting Kluber

Tom Pennington / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Boston Red Sox are showing interest in free-agent right-hander Corey Kluber, a source told Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

The 34-year-old pitched just one inning for the Texas Rangers in 2020 after being acquired from the Cleveland Indians last December. He was lifted due to a shoulder strain that kept him out of action for the remainder of the season.

A strained oblique and fractured forearm also limited the three-time All-Star to 35 2/3 innings in 2019.

Kluber had been the epitome of durability prior to those two injury-plagued seasons, throwing 200-plus innings every year from 2014 to 2018 while winning two AL Cy Young awards. Over those five seasons, he went 83-45 with a 2.85 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 10.1 K/9 in 1,091 1/3 innings.

The Red Sox are looking for pitching reinforcements after the club posted a 5.58 ERA in 2020, though Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez were sidelined for the season. Sale is expected to return from Tommy John surgery sometime next summer, while E-Rod should be ready for Opening Day after suffering from a COVID-related heart condition.

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