Dodgers Team News

Dodgers GM Discusses Clayton Kershaw’s Future in LA Following Latest Additions

The Los Angeles Dodgers have already made two major additions to their starting rotation this offseason in Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki. The team is also expecting both Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow to return early next season, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto still holding his spot in the rotation.

On top of those five players, the Dodgers have plenty of options for a No. 6 starter including Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, Landon Knack, and Bobby Miller.

Still, despite the team’s abundance of pitchers, general manager Brandon Gomes said Wednesday that L.A. still wants to re-sign Clayton Kershaw this offseason.

Gomes said that Kershaw was among the players who submitted a video to Sasaki as part of the team’s recruiting pitch to sign Sasaki.

He also provided an update on Kershaw’s injury rehab after undergoing foot and knee surgeries this offseason, saying Kershaw has progressed in his throwing program but is not yet throwing off a mound.

Kershaw emphatically called himself a “Dodger for life” during the team’s World Series parade. Just weeks earlier, after announcing he was going to come back for the 2025 season, he said it was going to be with the Dodgers.

“Mentally, I feel great. I had shoulder surgery last offseason, and my shoulder and elbow, everything, my arm, feels great,” Kershaw said on the Fox Sports pregame show during the National League Championship Series. “Obviously, I had some tough luck with my foot this year. But I want to make use of this surgery. I don’t want to have surgery and shut it down. So I’m gonna come back next year and give it a go and see how it goes.”

When later asked to clarify if he planned on testing free agency, Kershaw said: “I’m going to be a Dodger.”

While that has been the plan all along, the multiple rotation additions the Dodgers made seemed to potentially block a path for Kershaw to return. The Dodgers don’t see it that way, though.

Kershaw, who made just seven appearances last year while dealing with multiple injuries, is expected to miss the beginning of the 2025 season. Kershaw is likely a 60-day injured list candidate, meaning the team can sign and stash him, and hope he makes an impact at some point midway through the season.

Kershaw enters the 2025 season just 32 strikeouts away from 3,000 in his career. Only 19 pitchers have reached that milestone in their MLB careers. Kershaw will look to become the 20th as a member of the only team he’s ever known next season.

Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Noah Camras

Noah is an Editor for Dodgers Nation. He graduated from USC in 2022 with a B.A. in Journalism and minor in Sports Media Studies. He's been a Dodger fan his whole life, and his all-time favorite Dodgers are Matt Kemp and Russell Martin.

6 Comments

  1. The D’s might have a surplus of pitching now, but by the all star break it might be a very different story.

    It’s a business, on both ends, there may or may not be a place for him once he’s healthy, but damn, I’d sure love to see him in a Dodger Uniform again.

  2. What are the Dodgers doing this guy has been out of playoffs and regular season for a while now. Last time he was there it wasn’t anything special ever!!! Sign Kike back you guys let Flaherty go the LA kid for the Texas guy who can’t pitch in the playoffs get real Mr. Gomes you moron. The only reason you keep being able to spend is because of us LA the fans and Dodger Blue community that bleed blue

    1. What kind of moron are you. It’s obvious that you haven’t been a #Dodger fan very long, @Kershaw is only 32 strikeouts away from a very exclusive club, he’s done while pitching his entire career with the #Dodgers. Did you forget the reception he received while becoming the #Dodgers career strikeout leader. This entire run of Division winners began with him. I’ve followed the team since 1968 and there has never been a run of Western Division Champs in the history of this Organization. Check it bc they would win Division one year and the next year they would finish fourth or last. This is the Golden years of #Dodgers baseball. Let him pitch for them as long as he wants to. By the way, in 2023 he was their best pitcher.

      1. I’ve been a Fodgers fan since 1961 and much of what you say is true! Except if my memory serves me correctly, wasn’t 2023 the year that Clayton was blasted out of his playoff start against the D-Backs never getting out of the 1st inning? If he can get healthy enough to pitch this year, I hope we win back2back WS Championships so that Kersh can retire a Champion! As he ages, he’s running into more and more breakdowns physically!

  3. I’m a huge Dodger and CK22 fan! We need to keep him here for loyalty sake please ?. He’s always tried his best! Don’t just dump him off at the end of his career.

  4. Kershaw will not pitch unless he feels he is totally able to compete at a high level. He has done everything for the Dodgers and he bleeds Dodger Blue. He is not after money, he signs performance laden contracts, and if he is physically fit, he is still one of the best pitchers in baseball. He does not have to throw 100 mph because he knows how to PITCH! He will let everyone know when he is done. He can still pitch very effectively and deserves every chance to do so. The Dodgers would be very fortunate to have him. Go sign Kersh now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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