Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw Dodges Questions About Future in Los Angeles
No one has meant as much to the Dodgers in the past couple of decades as Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw essentially carried the organization on his back throughout his prime while racking up so many different accolades. The final piece missing from his Hall of Fame resume was a World Series, and he was finally able to accomplish that with the team last season.
Unfortunately he won’t be able to celebrate in the same way as he’ll be sidelined throughout the postseason after being shutdown for the rest of the year with an elbow injury. It must be even more painful to have to go through such a scenario with his contract up once the playoffs are over. Kershaw could re-sign with the team or seek to find another team close to home. However, the long time ace declined to talk about his future in baseball.
“This month, this is all I care about right now. I don’t want to distract anybody, take anything away from that. Right now, we’ve got to focus on the Giants. That’s what I’m focused on. It’s obviously from a different vantage point, which is frustrating. I’m just going to try and be a good cheerleader for now.”
While Kershaw will have to watch his team defend their crown, there is some good news about his injury. After receiving a Platelet-Rich Plasma injection, he should be ready to go by the time spring rolls around next year. With what team will that be with though? The Dodgers? The Rangers? Another team?
“I think I said a while ago I have no idea. I still have no idea. Win the World Series and we’ll go from there.”
Essentially the Dodgers and possibly the Rangers are the likely landing spots for him to continue his career. Kershaw may want to return home to closer to Dallas to finish his career, but Los Angeles has also become home to him after many seasons in blue. It’s hard to see the organization letting him walk away instead of finishing his career where it all started.
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It’s a tough situation because injury or not, he is probably not a $30M+ a season pitcher anymore and all the injuries do is make a longer term contract more of a crap shoot. But with the Rangers still struggling to find relevance, they may be willing to outbid the Dodgers.Right now, there are just too many uncertainties for the Dodgers to sign him to a lengthier, end of career contract when they have other significant free agents to consider.
When J Turner said that Kershaw wants to be a “one uniform guy”, I figure they can re-sign him for less than what he’s making now, but not so low that it would insult Kershaw. I’m thinking 2 years with a third-year option at between $26-28 mil per year…
I have to agree that there are more important players to sign than Kershaw, but he should be willing to finish his HOF career with the Dodgers – for less money.
He’s signing with another team. Probably the Texas Rangers.
Dodger Boy, Kershaw would retire before signing with the 3rd world Rangers.
You don’t know that Dodger Fan 4 Life.