Clayton Kershaw returned to the Dodgers for a document seventeenth season, and now the one query is that if and when he may pitch in 2024. The franchise icon agreed to an settlement with the Dodgers, in keeping with a number of reviews.
Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman of the New York Submit on Tuesday morning they were the first to report a deal. ESPN's Alden Gonzalez also reported a contract settlementas achieved Jack Harris, who thankfully is still at the Los Angeles Times.
On Saturday at DodgerFest at Dodger Stadium, Dodgers common supervisor Brandon Gomes and supervisor Dave Roberts stated the staff has been in touch with Kershaw, and he made it clear they need him again.
“We're persevering with to remain in contact with Clayton, and we're shifting ahead,” Gomes stated.
Kershaw had surgical procedure on Nov. 3 to restore the glenohumeral ligaments and capsule in his left shoulder, which sidelined him for six weeks in July and August and restricted him on the mound within the second half of the season. .
In his assertion after the surgical procedure, he stated: “I hope to be again taking part in sooner or later subsequent summer season.”
Kershaw has missed time on the injured record in every of the previous eight seasons, however this was the primary main surgical procedure of his profession. Even with the time misplaced in 2023, Kershaw's 24 begins and 131⅔ innings pitched have been his most in 4 years, and each lead a closely depleted Dodgers rotation.
Whereas on the mound final season, Kershaw was nonetheless very efficient, his 2.46 ERA second finest amongst main league pitchers with a minimum of 120 innings, and his 3.82 xERA twenty fifth amongst that group of 102 pitchers.
Kershaw had nominal success after getting back from the injured record in August, posting a 2.23 ERA in eight begins that have been unfold out to provide him extra relaxation. There have been additionally cracks within the armor, with lowered velocity, a excessive stroll fee (11.1 %) and poor peripherals (5.40 FIP).
The repair got here rapidly in Recreation 1 of the NLDS, when Kershaw obtained off to the worst begin of his profession, permitting six runs to the D-backs whereas recording only one out, after Kershaw dismissed any damage issues.
“I didn't do effectively sufficient. There's nothing wholesome right here,” Kershaw stated after Recreation 1. “Simply dangerous pitching.”
In an interview with David Vassegh on Dodger Discuss on Dec. 13, Kershaw stated he made the choice he wished to proceed pitching in 2024 after speaking together with his spouse Ellen.
“The competitor in me doesn't need it to finish the best way it did,” Kershaw stated. “I need to win. I need to win one other World Collection.”
The three-time Cy Younger Award winner and 10-time All-Star leads all Dodgers in strikeouts (2,944), bWAR (77.1) and fWAR (75.8). In 2023 he reached the milestone of 200 victories, and his 210 victories handed Don Drysdale for the second most within the historical past of the franchise.
Kershaw enters his age-36 season in 2024 simply 56 strikeouts shy of three,000.
“He's all the time been a Dodger, and that's our hope, too,” Roberts stated Saturday. “I believe his timing now could be to dominate the rehabilitation course of, and do one thing when it is sensible.”
Kershaw's seventeenth season with the Dodgers passes Don Sutton for many years by a pitcher with the Dodgers. In franchise historical past, the one place gamers who have been Dodgers longer have been Zack Wheat and Invoice Russell with 18 seasons every.
The Dodgers' 40-man roster is presently full. Thursday, when pitchers and catchers report back to Camelback Ranch in Arizona, is the primary day the Dodgers can use the 60-day injured record, which opens up potential spots. Nick Frasso, Tony Gonsolin, and Dustin Might are all candidates for the 60-day IL, popping out of operations, as Kershaw as soon as signed that the Dodgers want one other roster spot.
