Multiple reports reveal that starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw has agreed to the terms of a deal that brings him back to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner underwent shoulder surgery after the 2023 Major League Baseball season, wherein he had a 13-5 record and a 2.46 earned run average in 131.2 innings.
Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers reportedly agree on a deal, per @JonHeyman and @Joelsherman1 pic.twitter.com/YNC4qOAcLD
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) February 6, 2024
Dealing with injuries isn’t new to Kershaw. In 2016, the Dodgers placed him on the 60-day disabled list after dealing with back problems. Three years later, his Spring Training debut was delayed due to an inflamed shoulder. Despite those conditions, he still had impressive campaigns. He went 12-4 with a 1.69 ERA in 21 games in 2016 and 16-5 with a 3.03 ERA in 2019.
In 2021, Kershaw spent time on the injured list due to inflammation in his left forearm. He went 10-8 with a 3.55 ERA that year.
Clayton Kershaw is one of the toughest pitchers to beat when fully healthy. That’s why he won MLB’s most prestigious award for pitchers three times and was the 2014 National League Most Valuable Player. He has ten All-Star selections, including seven consecutive stints from 2011 to 2017.
Kershaw’s return fortifies the Dodgers’ starting rotation. He will join Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who signed a 12-year, $325 million deal and traded for Tyler Glasnow before giving him a five-year, $135 million extension.
The Dodgers also have Walker Buehler, Bobby Miller, Emmett Sheehan, and Dustin May. That rotation won’t strain Kershaw much, allowing him to potentially perform well with limited starts.
-Lance Fernandez