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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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Valentina Martinez

Valentina Martinez is a bilingual sports reporter. She is a Los Angeles native and a life long Dodgers fan. Valentina graduated from Arizona State University with bachelor's degrees in Sports Journalism and Spanish.

2 Comments

  1. This will have to be Kershaw’s last year. They will be able to plug him in after he heals because by then there should be room considering the consistent injuries among pitchers. He may pitch just a handful of innings before turning it over to the relievers, but it’s important for his legacy and the Dodgers legacy that he has a farewell tour of ballparks. If he is unable to pitch this year, look for his farewell tour after retirement next year. He will have his wish retiring as a Dodger.

  2. The idea of this article is lunacy
    They promised Roki a 6 man Rotation i could see kershaw being in a postseason roll. Maybe not a crucial game 1,2 or even 3 starter, but still a part of the Dodger post season roster.
    people forget that Roki is a Rookie and hasn’t seen 1 major league batter.
    I’m not saying that he won’t become a awesome pitcher. He already has electric stuff, but with only two pitches, and they will need to limit his innings he is as big of a question mark as kershaw at this point….

    KERSH has extensive experience mixed good and bad in the postseason. But a well rested kershaw at the end of the season with a six man rotation, I can see him hanging up his cleats after this year.

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