Clayton Kershaw’s days in Los Angeles aren’t over.
The Dodgers and Kershaw agreed to a one-year deal Friday, in response to an individual with data of the state of affairs, to finish Kershaw’s first stint as a free agent. The deal, which is reportedly value $17 million plus incentives, will probably be official as soon as Kershaw passes a bodily.
Following reviews of the deal, Kershaw posted a photograph of himself on Instagram with the phrases, “We again!”
Kershaw wasn’t a assure to return to Los Angeles. The left-hander was severely contemplating signing along with his hometown Texas Rangers, in response to a number of individuals with data of the state of affairs. And but imagining Kershaw in one other uniform was at all times troublesome.
The Dodgers are the one franchise Kershaw has recognized. They drafted him in 2006, he made his main league debut at Dodger Stadium two years later, and he exorcised his postseason demons 12 years after that. Los Angeles can be residence for him, his spouse, Ellen, and their rising household.
He’ll enter the Corridor of Fame on his first poll as a Dodger. The three-time Cy Younger Award winner and 2014 Nationwide League MVP will go down as one of many two best pitchers in franchise historical past alongside Sandy Koufax.
For the Dodgers, Kershaw’s presence is extra useful than to every other franchise. He epitomizes one of the vital profitable stretches in membership historical past. He’s the face of the franchise. His jersey sells. They’ve reunited with somebody whose worth vastly exceeds no matter he does on the mound.
Talking with reporters earlier than information of the signing Friday afternoon, Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned he hadn’t spoken to Kershaw since MLB’s lockout of the gamers ended a day earlier, however he acknowledged it will “really feel very unusual” if Kershaw, or fellow free-agent pitcher Kenley Jansen, weren’t with the group going into this weekend’s begin of spring coaching.
It could “be an adjustment for everybody,” Roberts mentioned.
It was a possible actuality, because the connections in Texas are deep for Kershaw — deep sufficient for reliable consideration.
His offseason house is minutes from Globe Life Subject the place the Rangers play their video games in Arlington. Rangers common supervisor Chris Younger is an in depth buddy. Rangers supervisor Chris Woodward spent three seasons as Dodgers third base coach earlier than taking the job in Texas in 2019. And the Rangers have acquired a number of former Dodgers over the past two seasons, punctuated by Corey Seager’s mammoth free-agent deal.
The Rangers spent closely on Seager and three different free brokers however had been nonetheless prepared to pay for Kershaw. On the opposite aspect, the Dodgers had been prepared to accommodate Kershaw as soon as he communicated his need to remain. Ultimately, it was as much as him.
Kershaw — a soon-to-be 34-year-old with greater than 2,600 innings on his arm between the common season and playoffs — isn’t at his peak anymore. The contract is proof after he made greater than $200 million over the past seven seasons.
He posted a 3.55 earned-run common in 121 2/3 innings throughout 22 begins final season and his fastball’s velocity has diminished. He spent the winter rehabilitating from a major elbow damage that ended his 2021 season within the remaining days earlier than the playoffs and almost required Tommy John surgical procedure.
As of Friday afternoon, Roberts didn’t know any specifics concerning the progress of Kershaw’s restoration — although the left-hander advised the Athletic that he's wholesome however barely behind the place he would usually be this time of yr.
However, when wholesome, he’s remained among the many higher beginning pitchers. A wholesome Kershaw offers the Dodgers rotation depth they want. Already working beneath the premise that Trevor Bauer won't ever pitch for them once more, the Dodgers misplaced Max Scherzer in free company. The one addition that they had made to the beginning rotation was signing Andrew Heaney, a reclamation venture, to a one-year deal.
Walker Buehler, Julio Urías, Tony Gonsolin and David Worth are the membership’s different choices to begin the season because it stands. Dustin Could, who underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in Could, might enter the image later in the summertime.
On Friday, they retained a starter whose worth stretches lengthy past the sphere, a legend in Southern California who will return to his second residence for a minimum of another season.
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