Corey Kluber was one of the Yankees’ high-risk, high-reward acquisitions this offseason, as it’s very hard to predict how a pitcher will perform following a (mostly) two-year hiatus. That said, it’s safe to assume the team had reason to be optimistic about Kluber’s health before signing him to a one-year, $11 million deal. The two-time Cy Young Award-winner spent the winter rehabbing with Eric Cressey, the Yankees’ director of player health and performance. While Kluber had offers from multiple teams, it’s not surprising that he landed in the Bronx, considering Kluber’s long-established relationships with both Cressey and former Cleveland pitching coach Matt Blake, who joined the Yankees in November 2019.
An overview of Corey Kluber and Eric Cressey’s decade-long relationship
