According to a source cited by MLB.com on Tuesday, the Dodgers are reuniting with their long-standing cornerstone, reaching an agreement with left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw. However, the club has yet to officially confirm the deal, pending a scheduled physical examination on Thursday.
Kershaw is poised to embark on his 17th season in Major League Baseball, although his return to action is anticipated for next summer following surgery on his left shoulder subsequent to the Dodgers’ defeat to the D-backs in the NLDS.
Recognized as one of the premier pitchers in baseball history, Kershaw boasts an impressive array of accolades, including a former NL MVP title, 10 All-Star selections, three Cy Young Awards, and a World Series championship.
With a career 2.48 ERA, his 157 ERA+ ranks him second in AL/NL history among pitchers with over 1,000 innings, trailing only Mariano Rivera (205).
Despite occasional inconsistencies in postseason performances, exemplified by his recent outing against Arizona in Game 1 of the NLDS, where he yielded six runs in just one out, Kershaw has also shone brightly in playoff scenarios.
He notably played a pivotal role in the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series triumph, maintaining a 2.93 ERA across five starts during that postseason.
Drafted seventh overall by the Dodgers in the 2006 MLB Draft, Kershaw has remained a loyal fixture of the team throughout his career, debuting in 2008 and contributing significantly to one of the franchise’s most successful periods.
Under Kershaw’s leadership in the rotation, the Dodgers have clinched playoff berths for the past 11 consecutive years, securing 10 NL West titles and three NL pennants during this remarkable stretch.
Kershaw’s dominance peaked between 2011 and 2017, during which he consistently earned All-Star nods and finished among the top five in NL Cy Young Award voting for seven consecutive seasons.
Over 207 starts in that period, Kershaw amassed a remarkable record of 118 wins against 41 losses, accompanied by a stellar 2.10 ERA (179 ERA+), a 0.91 WHIP, and an impressive 5.74 K/BB ratio.
Hailing from Texas, Kershaw claimed his first NL Cy Young Award in 2011, adding two more in subsequent years. His exceptional 2014 campaign saw him clinch his third Cy Young Award as well as the NL MVP title, boasting a stellar record of 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA, a 0.86 WHIP, and 239 strikeouts over 198 1/3 innings pitched.
Despite contending with injuries and a decline in velocity in recent years, Kershaw has remained remarkably successful. Since 2018, he has compiled a 66-28 record with a 2.77 ERA (149 ERA+), a 1.01 WHIP, and a 5.09 K/BB ratio over 133 appearances.
