Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw Seriously Contemplating Retirement
All good things must come to an end at some point. It’s a part of life and even the most legendary of players have to hang it up. Most know when that is and if they are lucky enough, they can go out on their own terms rather than being forced out due to declining talent or injuries. For Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, there has been speculation almost every season for the last few, that it could be his final year in baseball.
Kershaw has signed a few one-year deals to keep the flexibility open and the reality is that he may not pitch for much longer. This is a harsh lens to view for Dodger fans who have been lucky enough to witness his greatness for so long.
Kershaw opened up to USA Today about his possible retirement after this current season, saying that he has no idea what he will do once the year ends.
“I have four kids, a wife, I have to many factors when it comes to baseball,” Kershaw says. “I don’t want to diminish how much I like playing here, but I’m at a point where I have to take everything in consideration. I’m weighing a lot of factors. It might take a few months after the season to make a decision.
Per USA Today
If Kershaw does indeed hang it up after this year, he will go down as one of the best pitchers in the game. He has been the best pitcher over the last decade and he remains very effective to this day. It just speaks to his overall greatness as a player and it would be a tough moment to have an Opening Day for the Dodgers without Kershaw on the roster.
Injuries have taken their toll on Kershaw over the last few years and they could be playing a factor into his potential decision this winter.
“I still love to play, but I have not been able to stay healthy for a full year,” Kershaw says, “and that is the worst for me. You just feel like you’re not part of it. That’s hard for me too.
He is currently on the injured list tending to a shoulder issue but prior to his injury, Kershaw was as dominant as he has been in years. On the season, he holds an ERA of 2.55 and was in line to start the All-Star game for the National League if not for the injury. Kershaw also was looking like he could win another Cy Young Award if he had stayed healthy.
“If I come back [in 2024], I want to be good. You can’t come back halfway, you got to be all of the way in. You can’t just show up and say, “All right guys, here I am.’ You got to earn your spot, especially the kind of money you’re going to get paid.”
No matter what Kershaw decides to do, the Dodgers organization will support him. The team has signaled that over the last few off-seasons, allowing Kershaw to take his time to make his mind up.
There is always the possibility that Kershaw also heads to Texas to play for the Rangers for a season as well but it seems that retirement is very much a possibility at this point.
This just means that the Dodgers need to do whatever they can to maximize this current season to give Kershaw the best chance possible to go out on top with another World Series. They owe it to themselves and him to go all in.
Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Please subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more all year long!
