The Los Angeles Dodgers re-signed Clayton Kershaw to a one-year contract, which was the expected outcome throughout the offseason.
Kershaw is on the mend from surgeries to his left knee and foot, and will have another delayed start to the regular season. He didn’t pitch until July last year because of the recovery process from left shoulder surgery.
There figures to be a similar timeline for the 36-year-old this season, his 18th with the Dodgers. Kershaw is likely to begin the season on the 60-day injured list.
According to ESPN’s Alden González, Kershaw will again evaluate his future after the 2025 season:
“It’s been year to year for a number of years now,” said Kershaw, whose last multiyear contract expired after the 2021 season. “We’ll just see how it goes at the end of this year.”
Kershaw declined a $5 million player option for 2025 and became a free agent for the fourth consecutive offseason. In prior cases, there was speculation the future Hall of Famer would join his hometown Texas Rangers.
But Kershaw made his intentions clear as the Dodgers celebrated their World Series title at Dodger Stadium. “Dodger for life!” he shouted into the microphone after addressing the crowd.
He then reiterated that stance during an interview on MLB Network.
“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 on the broadcast.
“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.”
Clayton Kershaw always wanted to retire with Dodgers
As the future Hall of Famer began looking at the end of his career several years ago, Kershaw often spoke fondly of relishing the opportunity to only play for one team. He reiterated that stance after re-signing with the Dodgers for at least one more season.
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