GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Los Angeles Dodgers have re-signed three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, signaling the return of a veteran presence at 36 years old who has been with the team for nearly two decades.
The Dodgers are hopeful that the ten-time All-Star still has valuable contributions to make on the field, particularly as they pursue another World Series championship. Kershaw finalized a one-year, $7.5 million deal on Thursday, adding depth to a pitching lineup that may also feature talents such as Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, and Tony Gonsolin.
Expressing gratitude, Kershaw stated, “I want to be here. I’m thankful that I get to be here.” While he is expected to start the season on the 60-day injured list following surgeries on his foot and knee, he remains optimistic about his return timeline and is actively working out at Camelback Ranch, engaging in long toss and running exercises after an extended period on crutches or a walking boot.
“The foot surgery has been hard — it’s not a fun surgery,” Kershaw admitted. “It’s just not an easy process, but I finally started to turn the corner a few weeks ago. Being able to throw and all those things, it hasn’t felt this way in a while. So that’s good.”
Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts highlighted not only Kershaw’s importance on the field but also his leadership off the field. Notably, fellow two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell requested a locker beside Kershaw’s to learn from his experience. “That’s what he means to this clubhouse, this organization,” Roberts remarked, emphasizing the uplifting atmosphere Kershaw brings.
If Kershaw completes an 18th season with the Dodgers, it will tie him with franchise legends Zack Wheat and Bill Russell for the all-time record. Last season was challenging for Kershaw, who recorded a 2-2 win-loss record with a 4.50 ERA across seven starts, striking out 24 in 30 innings. He did not contribute in the postseason while the Dodgers secured their second championship in five years. Kershaw expressed that his absence during the playoffs has fueled his drive to return to competitive play.
“It just didn’t feel like it was the right time,” he reflected regarding retirement. “Even though we won, being on the shelf for that, it wasn’t the way I scripted it out. Still super thankful to be a part of it last year and get to see everything, but I want to be out there when it happens.”
He made it clear that he never considered joining another team, declaring, “I’m a Dodger. I’m so thankful for this organization. I don’t think I put enough merit on it at times, what it means to be in one organization for your entire career. It’s special, and I don’t want to lose sight of that.”
With the intention of implementing a six-man rotation, the Dodgers believe that extending the break between starts may work in Kershaw’s favor. Roberts acknowledged that managing such a rotation could present challenges due to the numerous options available but described it as a positive dilemma.
“As we’ve seen, pitching plays itself out in many different ways,” Roberts noted, expressing excitement at having Kershaw ready whenever he’s available.
Over his stellar career, Kershaw boasts a 212-94 record and a remarkable 2.50 ERA in 429 starts alongside three relief appearances across 17 seasons. To accommodate his return on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers placed right-handed pitcher River Ryan on the 60-day injured list.
