Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw Reportedly Returning to LA in 2023
Dodger fans, you can take a huge sigh of relief. Clayton Edward Kershaw is returning to LA for Year 16. Thursday night, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that Kershaw and the Dodgers were “nearing” an agreement on a one-year deal for the 2023 season.
The Dodgers are nearing a one-year deal with Clayton Kershaw, per @Ken_Rosenthal
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) November 11, 2022
This comes amid the rumors that Kershaw may have wanted to play near his hometown of Dallas for the Texas Rangers, or retire from the game of baseball altogether. But instead, just hours into free agency, Kershaw has made his intentions clear: He wants to be in Los Angeles.
This is great news for a Dodgers team that entered the offseason with more questions than answers in terms of the starting rotation. Julio Urias is still going to be the ace, but after that, there are some concerns. Tony Gonsolin struggled with a full workload last season, and we don’t yet know what Dustin May will look like in this post-Tommy John surgery world. So, having Kershaw provides some much needed stability to the rotation, and allows them some more flexibility in how they approach the rest of the offseason.
The team already extended the $19.65 million qualifying offer to Tyler Anderson, so if he accepts it (or signs on a larger deal), between him and Kershaw, the Dodgers could feel very comfortable with their rotation in 2023.
It’s good to know Kershaw has at least one more year in him. Hopefully this year, the Dodgers can get him back to the Promised Land, and win ring No. 2.
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Really felt like he would sign for one more year. 3 wins to 200, 13 wins to pass Don Drysdale’s 209 win record for LA. Great news!
He honestly, I don’t care all that much about sentimentality of it, the Dodgers need starting pitching. And, Kershaw was 12-3 and a 2.28 ERA last year. Sign him up!
For Kersh- this would be a huge step. He has 197 wins. He would have an opportunity to hit the 200 win plateau and Don Drysdale’s Dodger wins record of 209. Both next year. And another solid chance to go to the playoffs and then the World Series. A win-win situation. We desperately need him in our rotation. We have technically only Julio as a rotation member with no question marks. Anyway, great news about Clayton!
I really respect Kershaw’s decision to comeback to the Dodgers. He has really made a strong showing this past year after ailing much of the year. His determination and intensity to perform 1000% is very commendable to set as a role model as a Dodger legend. I had written him off to Texas, but I’m glad he has not given up on the Dodgers to win another WS. FO needs to be fair and offer the financial needs for him and his family, for he is a man of honesty and integrity.
This is good news. But I disagree with the author (Noah) that the Dodgers should feel comfortable if Anderson also stays. That would be great of course, but Gonsolin and May are still big unknowns. Gonsolin had a great year but was suspect after coming off the IL at the end, and May – I’m not confident with him right now. He didn’t look good at all, and still seems as if he has a lot of work ahead of him to get back to his previous form, if that’s even possible. He was on a great trajectory before he left for TJ surgery, so hopefully he can get back to that. So the way I see it, we’ve got Julio, Kersh (not official yet), and hopefully Anderson (he hasn’t accepted his offer as of this comment). We are nowhere near any kind of solid rotation. Even with those three, we still need one or two solid starters because there will be injuries (cough cough Kersh cough cough) and bad spells.
This IS NOT CONFIRMATION. Don’t give your hopes up.
wait.. “Tony Gonsolni struggled with a full workload last season” ??? Dude was 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA!
He was awesome until he went on the IL. He wasn’t the same when he came back, which isn’t surprising (not his fault). We’re all hoping he gets back to that form in 2023.
Until we have a manager that knows how to manage a pitching staff it is all moot.