Left-hander Clayton Kershaw has been a free agent a couple of times now.
One time, not so long ago, there was a small chance that he would sign for another team that wasn’t the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Now, however, we can be fairly certain that Kershaw likely will never pitch for a different organization.
He was a free agent again, until Tuesday.
Now, as MLB’s official Twitter account states: “He’s back.”
Dodgers, LHP Clayton Kershaw are reportedly in agreement on a deal, per @MLBNetwork Insider @JoelSherman1. pic.twitter.com/xwEUVvs9PK
— MLB (@MLB) February 6, 2024
The terms of the deal are not yet known, but it’s likely a one-year commitment.
Since Kershaw is expected to miss at least half the season while recovering from shoulder surgery, there is also a chance that the deal contains a team option for 2025.
We will have to wait for the official details, but what we all thought could happen, happened: the Dodgers are re-signing Kershaw.
Fans, of course, offered their take about the move.
Most of them believe Kershaw and Dodgers belong together and that can’t change.
A forever Dodger, as it should be.
— Jonathan Martin (@JonathanKMartin) February 6, 2024
Kershaw pitching for anyone else would just be wrong.
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) February 6, 2024
Oh hell yeah! Forever Dodger
— Di$neyBeachLV (@Disneybeachlv) February 6, 2024
DODGER FOR LIFE!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/cXBAAPitkI
— Merica First (@merica7583) February 6, 2024
LA has managed to address their pitching depth woes with a brilliant offseason that included Shohei Ohtani (available to pitch in 2025), Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and James Paxton.
They will be joining Bobby Miller, Walker Buehler, Emmett Sheehan, Michael Grove, Gavin Stone, and potentially Dustin May around midseason.
You can go ahead and add Kershaw to that list, and if he manages to regain full health at some point this year, he belongs in the top-five comfortably.
This is a career 2.48 ERA guy who also had a solid 2.46 ERA in 131.2 frames last year despite a balky shoulder and other injuries.
NEXT:
Picture Shows A Notable Scar For Shohei Ohtani
