Clayton Kershaw News: Dodgers Officially Re-Sign Future Hall of Famer
After weeks of wondering why it was taking so long, the Dodgers finally made official their re-signing of left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw on Monday morning. The deal is for one year and $20 million.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have re-signed three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw to a one-year contract through the 2023 season for $20 million dollars.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) December 5, 2022
Kershaw, who went 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA in 2022, almost certainly could have made more money elsewhere, but he chose to come back to Los Angeles once again. This is the third time Kershaw has hit free agency, and it’s the third time he chose L.A.
Kershaw’s health has been an issue over the past several years. After averaging nearly 32 starts per year over his first seven full seasons, he hasn’t made 30 starts in a season since 2015. But when he’s on the mound, he remains one of the best pitchers in baseball. His fastball isn’t what it once was, but it’s still effective, and it’s supplemented by a slider and a curveball that are among the best in baseball and the acumen that comes with 15 years of experience.
When Kershaw throws his first pitch in 2023, he will join Don Sutton as the only pitchers to pitch in 16 seasons for Dodgers, and he’ll be the first one to do it in 16 consecutive seasons. He’ll almost surely get to 200 career wins next season — he’s currently at 197 — and he’s just 193 strikeouts away from 3,000, so he has a shot at that, too, if he can remain healthy.
What he’s really after, though, is another World Series title. After being cheated out of the 2017 title and losing the World Series again in 2018, Kershaw and the Dodgers finally broke through in 2020, becoming the first team ever to win 13 postseason games in one year on the way to their first WS win since the year Kersh was born.
Kershaw is a Hall of Famer no matter what happens in 2023 or beyond, but it sure would be nice to add another ring or two to his collection.
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Huge overpay for an injury prone player. He should’ve joined Degrom in Texas.
Like staying loyal but would help to sign someone that can last the entire season! Who is next Justin Turner?!? I guess we lose to the Padres when it counts again!!
FAILS, to mention, he will be out with supposedly a back injury in Aug and 5 innings or less.
Go Clayton! Wishing you great success!!!
Oh please. Forget the legacy stuff. The Dodgers need starting pitching depth and Kershaw is a good signing. 1 year 20 million is a steal. All 29 other teams would do that signing in a heart beat! Who cares if he misses a third of the season? If he goes 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA, it’s money in the bank. Good job FO!
Alvarez, Seager, Kike, Pederson, TTurner, Machado etc. Fraudman has let almost an entire allstar team walk! I like Kershaw being back but at some point we need an ace that can play entire seasons!