The manager of the Red Sox announces that the kipper will be…

 

Starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez, 37, accomplished something on June 20, 2023, that he had never done before: he converted his first and, eventually, only save of his career.

Before being permanently removed from the game due to discomfort in his right shoulder, that was Kluber’s last game with the Red Sox.

What an unusual way to end one’s career as a starting pitcher, particularly one who has dominated the game for the majority of the past ten years.

That save marks the end of a 13-year career that included two American League Cy Young Awards, three straight All-Star seasons, MVP votes, a no-hitter, and many postseason runs for Kluber, who announced his retirement on Friday.

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He posted on Instagram, saying, “With deep gratitude, I am announcing my retirement from Major League Baseball, capping a remarkable 13-season Major League Baseball journey.” “I am incredibly appreciative of all the people and things that helped shape my journey.”

He went on, enumerating his previous teams in chronological order: “A special acknowledgement to the Cleveland Guardians, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and the Boston Red Sox for granting me the privilege of wearing their jerseys and being a part of your team.” He continued by expressing his gratitude to the Players’ Association, the players, his agents, trainers, teammates, staff, and his family, referring to them as “my bedrock.”

Though he spent the majority of his career with Cleveland, Kluber wasn’t exactly a homegrown player, despite his impressive resume. He was chosen by the San Diego Padres in the fourth round of the 2007 draft. However, they erred when they traded him to Cleveland in 2010 as part of a three-team deal.

Although Kluber made his debut in 2011, it wasn’t until 2013 that he was a regular member of the rotation. With 34 starts, he led all Major Leaguers in wins (18) and 2.35 FIP in 2014, establishing himself as an exceptional starter and earning his first AL Cy Young award. He would collect votes for the coveted pitching honor for the first time in five seasons in a row.

Between 2014 and 2018, Kluber had 1,228 strikeouts over 1,091 ⅓ regular-season innings with a 2.85 ERA and 1.016 WHIP in 160 starts, including at least 32 starts in four of the previous five years. He emerged as Cleveland’s star player and helped the team return to the postseason. It was no accident that Cleveland had three division titles in a row during his three All-Star seasons in 16–18.

With 32 starts, three full games, and two shutouts in 2016, Kluber’s 3.14 ERA helped Cleveland win their first pennant since 1997. Cleveland was also the last team to obtain home-field advantage as decided by the midsummer event because he and Team AL had defeated Team NL in the All-Star Game. (Now, it is awarded to the squad with the superior regular-season record.)

When the Red Sox finished 86 years without a championship in 2004, Cleveland, trophy-less since 1948, had the unpleasant distinction of owning the longest championship drought in the AL. In Game 2 of the ALDS, Kluber faced Boston and threw seven scoreless innings at Fenway Park, allowing just three hits and three walks. After Cleveland defeated Boston in three games, Kluber shut out the Toronto Blue Jays in the first game of the ALCS.

But Cleveland blew it in the World Series after leading the Chicago Cubs 3-1. After controlling Chicago in the first two games, Kluber began Games 1, 4, and 7. However, in the last game, the Cubs finally got to him, scoring four earned runs on six hits in four innings. In addition to ending their 108-year drought, the Cubs made the AL’s leading drought leader become the MLB’s leader.

Next year, a determined Kluber made a vengeful return. He had one of the greatest single-season performances of the century in ’17. In addition to his one scoreless inning for Texas in 2020, he led the MLB with a career-best 2.25 ERA and 202 ERA+, 0.869 WHIP, 7.36 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 18 wins in 29 starts, including five complete games and three shutouts—also the best numbers in the Majors. Although he placed eighth in the AL MVP voting and defeated Chris Sale, who had had a fantastic rookie season in Boston, to earn his second Cy Young, Cleveland lost to the Yankees in a five-game ALDS.

The best year of Kluber’s career, which came in 2018 with a 2.89 ERA, 33 starts, and an AL-high 215 innings worked, was starting to fade. After a season marred by injuries in 2019, Cleveland moved him to Texas in December in exchange for right-hander Emmanuel Clase and outfielder Delino DeShields. While moving Kluber away to San Diego was one of the best moves in Cleveland’s team history, Clase’s rise to the top of the baseball closer rankings (1.97 ERA, 223 games, 110 saves) also ranks highly.

One inning into his Rangers debut, Kluber tore a major muscle in his right teres, thereby ruining his ’20 season before it ever started. The Yankees then decided to give him a go, and despite making just 16 starts in 2021, one of those outings resulted in a no-hitter.

That kind of career ended poorly, which is regrettable. He signed a one-year contract with the Red Sox after making 31 starts and accruing 164 innings for the ’22 Rays, which was more than he had in the three prior seasons combined. Boston would only have nine starts, and Opening Day would be a difficult one. He appeared in 15 games with a 7.04 ERA overall, making his first relief appearance since 2013. While Kluber showed glimpses of his former self in two one-run starts in April, spanning five and six innings each, he was moved to the bullpen by the end of May, and a month later, he was forced to stop his season due to inflammation in his right shoulder.

Though Kluber’s playing days are behind him, he is already itching to write the next chapter in his career. Considering his background as a young arm mentor, it’s not difficult to envision him evolving into a highly sought-after pitching coach.

“My love for baseball never wavers as I bid farewell to the pitcher’s mound,” he said. “I am excited to look into ways that I can continue to support the sport in a different way. I’m excited to share my knowledge with the upcoming crop of MLB players.