MLB free agency began in full earnest on Thursday, and the Los Angeles Dodgers wasted no time by reportedly re-signing Clayton Kershaw to a one-year contract worth an estimated $20 million.
Kershaw returns to a Dodgers rotation that could look very different next season. Tyler Anderson and Andrew Heaney are free agents, and Walker Buehler of course is expected to miss the entire year while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
With a couple of spots to fill, the Dodgers figure to be in the market for another starting pitcher. Among the best options on the open market are Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander and Carlos Rodon.
Japanese ace Kodai Senga is also available to sign after he opted out of his contract with the Nippon Professional Baseball’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the Dodgers are among the teams showing interest in the three-time NPB All-Star:
Source: #Dodgers among teams showing interest in free agent Kodai Senga, who is now eligible to negotiate with @MLB teams. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 11, 2022
Senga is a traditional free agent and will not be part of a posting system, meaning the team that signs him won’t have to pay additional fees beyond the contract value.
Senga is coming off arguably his best season with the SoftBank Hawks that saw him go 11-6 with a 1.89 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 148 innings pitched (23 games), recording 159 strikeouts against 50 walks.
Senga profiles as a mid-rotation starter, with a fastball that can reach triple digits and an elite splitter. However, some scouts are concerned about his secondary pitches and elbow injury history.
In addition to the Dodgers, the San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays are among the other teams that have been publicly linked to Senga.
Clayton Kershaw & Justin Turner top priorities for Dodgers
After locking up Kershaw for another year, the Dodgers’ next priority is re-signing Turner. The team declined his $16 million club option for the 2023 season, but president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said he is a top priority for the organization.
Make sure to follow Dodger Blue on Instagram! It’s the best way to see exclusive coverage from games and events, get your questions answered, and more!
