The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the offseason with a priority of re-signing longtime ace Clayton Kershaw. However, the Texas Rangers presented an intriguing opportunity for the southpaw to play in the city where he lives.
Due to the three-month-long MLB lockout, the Dodgers faced uncertainty on whether or not they would be able to retain Kershaw. But once the lockout was lifted, they moved quickly to get a deal done with the three-time Cy Young Award winner.
Kershaw was selected by the Dodgers with the seventh overall pick in the 2006 MLB Draft and made his debut two years later. Since then, he has spent his entire career with L.A.
While it wasn’t the ultimate deciding factor, Kershaw does appreciate the potential opportunity to spend his entire career with one the Dodgers, via the Associated Press:
“I think it’s really cool that people do that. … I think it is a very awesome thing,” he said. “You think about the guys who have done that. It doesn’t really happen recently as much any more, either.”
While the Dodgers were able to re-sign their franchise legend, it was only on a one-year contract, fueling talk that this could be his final season. Kershaw hasn’t indicated as much, but there was speculation he could retire prior to this season.
Kershaw went 10-8 with a 3.55 ERA over 22 starts last year. He missed two months due to a left flexor tendon strain that then ended Kershaw’s season in what was his final start before the playoffs.
Despite not beginning a throwing program until January, Kershaw has been nothing short of impressive this season. And most importantly, has looked fully recovered from last year’s elbow trouble.
Kershaw becomes Dodgers strikeout king
In his last start, Kershaw passed Don Sutton to become the Dodgers all-time strikeouts leader. He additionally is just the 26th pitcher in MLB history with at least 2,700 career strikeouts.
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