When Clayton Kershaw reached free agency last offseason for the first time in his career, it was with plenty of uncertainty both in terms of health and his future with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Kershaw’s 2021 season came to an end because of a second left elbow/forearm injury of the year, which prevented him from pitching in the playoffs and put the possibility of retirement on the table. The Dodgers declined to extend him a qualifying offer in order to allow Kershaw ample time to mull his future without any pressure.
Once Kershaw decided to continue with his career, re-signing with the Dodgers or joining the Texas Rangers for a homecoming were believed to be the two most likely scenarios. Kershaw wound up remaining with the Dodgers on a one-year contract.
With Kershaw a free agent for the second consecutive year, the Dodgers and Rangers again could be in a battle for his services.
During an appearance on MLB Networks’s “Hot Stove,” Jon Morosi indicated the Rangers are waiting for some direction from Kershaw:
“I do think Texas, on some level, is there among the options for Clayton Kershaw. The Rangers, with Chris Young now running their baseball operations, Chris and Clayton have a very good relationship personally. Clayton has known the organization there in Texas so well throughout his career because of being around the game and living there in the offseason.
“So for me, if he ever were to have interest in a situation of pitching at home, have his kids there at home and growing up in the Dallas-Forth Worth area, that could be appealing from the Kershaw family standpoint should they want to do that. Of course, he still has all the comforts of home when he’s out West because L.A. has been his professional home for darn near two decades. So I think right now, Clayton probably has three options.
“No. 1, to potentially retire if he wants to do that. But if he decides to pitch, and I sort of think now we’ve gotten to this point in the offseason and there’s been no announcement that he’s stepping away, I sort of think we’ll see him back on the mound at some point in 2023. Then, it’s probably a two-team conversation: either the chance to be a career-long Dodger, which has to be the favorite for all the reasons that you mentioned. Or, that possibility if he and his wife Ellen have that conversation about wanting to play at home in Dallas, perhaps that enters into the discussion as well.”
Multiple reports have indicated the Rangers are in the market for starting pitchers this offseason, and could pursue the likes of Jacob deGrom, Carlos Rodón and Justin Verlander in addition to Kershaw.
Although Kershaw spoke fondly of his relationship with Rangers executive vice president and general manager Chris Young, he’s also placed a value on being in position to contend for a World Series.
Despite making a splash in free agency last year by signing Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, the Rangers went 68-94 and fired manager Chris Woodward during the season.
Andrew Friedman, Max Muncy want Clayton Kershaw to remain with Dodgers
When speaking about Kershaw earlier this year, Max Muncy expressed his hope that the left-hander spends his entire with the Dodgers.
It’s a sentiment president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman had previously shared and one he reiterated during a press conference after the Dodgers were eliminated in the National League Division Series.
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