Pitcher Clayton Kershaw has spent his entire Major League Baseball career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. That will remain the case for the upcoming season as the 33-year-old is signing a one-year deal with the club, per Ken Rosenthal.
Free-agent left-hander Clayton Kershaw is in agreement with the Dodgers on a one-year deal, pending a physical, sources tell @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 11, 2022
Kershaw was 10-8 with a 3.55 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 144 strikeouts in 121 2/3 innings last season, though left forearm inflammation kept him out of the lineup for much of July, August, and September. The oft-injured pitcher did not pitch during the Dodgers’ postseason run.
Kershaw missed the postseason in 2021 with an elbow issue. He told @ByMcCullough today that he is healthy, but slightly behind where he normally is at this time of year. https://t.co/y7cKPrYsv7
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 11, 2022
The left-hander finished up a three-year, $93 million contract this past season and was hitting the open market for the first time in his 14-year career. However, many reports pointed to him re-signing with the Dodgers for at least another season so that both sides could see where things stood afterward.
The eight-time All-Star brings a lifetime record of 185–84 with 2,670 strikeouts and a 2.49 ERA with him. Along with winning the World Series with Los Angeles in 2020 he was named NL MVP in 2014 and was named NL Cy Young Award winner three times (2011, 2013, 2014).
As news of the contract agreement was reported, there were plenty of reactions from around the MLB world regarding Kershaw and at least one more season in Dodger blue.
HE STAYS https://t.co/traTK8qXee
— Dusty Baker (@DustyBakerTV) March 11, 2022
Interesting that it's a one-year deal. Hurts my Tony Gonsolin breakout case a little, but there's room for both. https://t.co/g0m6Drvn0Y
— Scott White (@CBSScottWhite) March 11, 2022
2 out of 3 @TheInclinePod hosts had this as a lock all off-season 😉. So relieved we have our all-time ace back. #Dodgers https://t.co/qmaqsBVMJk
— Jake Reiner (@Reiner_Jake) March 11, 2022
Not a surprise and I bet he’s got plenty in the tank! https://t.co/wYnXTEcUCX
— Anthony Recker (@Anthony_Recker) March 11, 2022
The 🐐is back in the only place he should be. Fantastic. https://t.co/DQsDJub0Gc
— Adam Schein (@AdamSchein) March 11, 2022
Now that the lockout is over, MLB Opening Day is set for April 7. We’ll see if Kershaw is in condition enough to be out there for the start of the season. Regardless, plenty of Dodgers fans appears to be happy to have their GOAT back, for at least one more season.