The Los Angeles Dodgers have seemingly capped off a flurry of offseason activity by re-signing Clayton Kershaw to a one-year contract worth $7.5 million.
River Ryan was placed on the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster.
Kershaw being back with the Dodgers this year marks his 18th season with the team since being drafted in 2006. Kershaw declined a $5 million player option for 2025 to become a free agent for the fourth consecutive offseason, but consistently made it clear he would ultimately re-sign with the Dodgers.
“I always thought we’ll just see what happens, and every year it just so happens that this is the best place for me. Now thinking about it, there’s no other place I’m going to play,” Kershaw said after the World Series celebration at Dodger Stadium.
“I don’t know how much longer I’ve got, but I don’t see myself ever wearing another uniform. I probably shouldn’t say that. There’s not a lot of leverage with that, but at the same time, I don’t care anymore. I’m a Dodger, and that means the world to me.”
Like with Kiké Hernández, the timing of making Kershaw’s signing official was tied to the start of Spring Training, when the Dodgers would be able to utilize the 60-day IL to create room on their 40-man roster.
Kershaw may go on the 60-day IL himself due to an expected delay to the season.
He underwent offseason surgery to address a bone spur in his toe, along with arthritis and a ruptured plantar plate in his left foot. Kershaw also had surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee.
Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the surgery on Kershaw’s knee, and Dr. Kenneth Jung operated on his foot.
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes recently said Kershaw had begun a throwing program but was not yet getting any work done on the mound.
Kershaw went 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA, 3.53 FIP and 1.50 WHIP in just seven starts last year. His season was cut short because of the bone spur injury. It’s not known when Kershaw, who will turn 37 years old in March, suffered the meniscus tear.
Clayton Kershaw milestones in 2025
Kershaw is poised to remain the longest-tenured Dodgers player on the roster this year at 18 seasons. He’s ahead of Austin Barnes, who leads position players in his 11th season. Chris Taylor is entering a 10th season with the Dodgers.
Furthermore, once Kershaw makes a start in 2025, his 18 seasons will tie with Zack Wheat and Bill Russell for most by a single player in Dodgers franchise history.
Another milestone for Kershaw to reach this season is 3,000 career strikeouts. He’s just 32 strikeouts away from joining a rare group of pitchers.
Only 19 pitchers in MLB history have recorded 3,000 strikeouts, and just four (Walter Johnson, Bob Gibson, Steve Carlton and John Smoltz) have achieved the milestone with one team.
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