Dodgers News: Andrew Friedman ‘Absolutely’ Wants Clayton Kershaw Back in 2024

One of the biggest questions surrounding the Dodgers this offseason is what the future holds for Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw has signed one-year deals for the last few seasons, and has entered each offseason with more uncertainty than the last.

Kershaw has played 16 seasons in the MLB and has thrown 2,907 innings in his MLB career across the regular season and postseason. He will be 36 years old at the start of next season, and has continued to struggle with injuries.

This year, it was a shoulder issue that sapped him of velocity and command for the better part of the second half of the season. It also caused him to have the worst start of his career in Game 1 of the NLDS.

As of now, no one knows what Kershaw is going to do, and that includes Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. When speaking to the media on Tuesday, Friedman had this to say about Kershaw’s future.

“I think he and (his wife) Ellen are going to take some time right now and assess,” Friedman said. “The ball is squarely in their court and I’m sure at some point I’ll talk to him.”

Friedman was then asked an important question: Would the Dodgers want him back?

“Absolutely. Absolutely.”

Despite the injuries, Kershaw still put together an impressive 2023 regular season, going 13-5 with a 2.46 ERA in 24 starts. Kershaw was firmly in the NL Cy Young race in the first half of the year, and still managed to play well after coming back from injury before the postseason.

Kershaw will likely take his time making this decision — one that will involve his wife, Ellen, and have a lot to do with the best interest of their kids. However, Friedman made it clear that if Kershaw wants to return to the sport of baseball in 2024, the Dodgers would love to have him in Los Angeles.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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