Insider Wonders if Clayton Kershaw’s Time With Dodgers is Over After Roki Sasaki Signing

There hasn’t been any doubts Clayton Kershaw would return to the Los Angeles Dodgers next season. Even after the veteran left-hander opted out of his player option with the team, there was still no question whether the future Hall of Famer was coming back to Los Angeles for at least one more season.

There was overwhelming evidence this would be the case.

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

Before ace Blake Snell came to an agreement with the Dodgers, he made one demand. Snell told president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman that he wanted his locker to be next to Kershaw’s.

“I can’t wait. I was telling Andrew I need my locker next to his,” Snell told AM 570 LA Sports. “He’s just done so many amazing things in his career. So for me to talk to him, pick his brain, learn from all his experience, I’m really excited. To learn from a guy like that is, I mean, you can’t ask for more.”

Additionally, Kershaw had publicly said he would be retiring with the Dodgers during the playoffs.

“I just thought everyone kind of assumed and knew I was coming back. I didn’t really think about it,” he said. “I’m going to be a Dodger.”

General manager Brandon Gomes also reaffirmed retaining the revered southpaw was on the Dodgers’ offseason to-do list.

“He’s continuing to heal and build up from the procedures he’s had,” Gomes said at the Winter Meetings. “We’ll just stay in touch. As I said, I hope and our expectation is that Clayton will be back next year, and whenever he’s ready, if we’re fortunate enough to bring him back, we’ll plug him in.”

But MLB insider Mark Feinsand isn’t convinced Kershaw’s free agency fate is sealed.

“On the Major League free-agent side, one question has to be asked: Is Clayton Kershaw’s time with the Dodgers finished?” Feinsand wrote. “L.A.’s rotation now features Yamamoto, Snell, Sasaki, Ohtani (who will return from a right elbow surgery this season) and Glasnow, with Gonsolin, May, Knack and Emmet Sheehan waiting in the wings.

“We have all assumed that Kershaw would be back with the Dodgers at some point, but given the glut of starting pitching on the roster, is there even room for him?”

While Feinsand’s point is understandable, it’s hard to imagine the Dodgers moving on from Kershaw if he wishes to return.

The team certainly has a star-studded rotation, but Kershaw’s legacy represents the best of Dodger baseball.

As he said, he is a Dodger for life. If he wants to continue playing, it has to be with L.A.

More news: Former Dodgers Pitcher Announces Retirement Citing Injury With LA as Key Reason

Photo Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

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