The Cleveland Indians have traded veteran right-handed pitcher Jake Westbrook, 32, to the St. Louis Cardinals as part of a three-way trade also involving the San Diego Padres.

The Indians get righty pitcher Corey Kluber, 24, from San Diego. The other key part of the deal has St. Louis outfielder Ryan Ludwick going to the Padres.

Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes

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Westbrook was one of the American League's top pitchers from 2004 to 2006, going 44-34. He began encountering arm problems in 2007, although he won a game for the Indians over the Boston Red Sox that fall in the AL Championship Series.

Westbrook underwent Tommy John elbow surgery during the 2008 season. In the last year of his contract, he has made an admirable comeback this season, going 6-7 with a 4.65 ERA for the young, last-place Indians.

Kluber, who will pitch for the Indians' Class AA team, the Akron Aeros, went 6-6 with a 3.45 ERA for the AA San Antonio Missions. He leads the Texas League with 136 strikeouts, 32 more than the league's No. 2-strikeout pitcher.

Kluber's 136 strikeouts give him excellent ratios, getting them in 122 2/3 innings against 40 walks. He has given up seven home runs -- just one per every 17 1/2 innings.