With the Los Angeles Dodgers’ season over, some difficult decisions may need to be made, particularly about left-hander Clayton Kershaw.
The veteran southpaw returned to the Dodgers on a one-year, $17 million contract in the spring after the lockout was lifted.
Though injuries have continued to plague Kershaw, he still posted a 12-3 record over 23 starts and had an ERA of 2.28 in 126.1 innings of work.
The 34-year-old is a free agent once the World Series reaches its conclusion.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has stated that he hopes Kershaw will be back in Dodger Blue in 2023, but they haven’t decided whether or not to extend a qualifying offer his way.
Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic tweeted that they want to give Kershaw time to decide whether or not he wants to pitch again in 2023.
Andrew Friedman said the hope is that Clayton Kershaw is back next year but they haven’t decided whether to tended him a qualifying offer. They want to allow Kershaw to have the time to decide whether he wants to play but didn’t rule that decision out from happening quickly.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) October 18, 2022
Kershaw’s Future Uncertain
It’s hard to imagine Kershaw in a uniform other than that of the Dodgers.
While he could potentially depart via free agency, the most likely outcome if he decides to pitch another year would be for him to return to the Dodgers.
Kershaw has been a Dodger ever since his debut all the way back in 2008.
He’s won three NL Cy Young Awards and has also earned an MVP Award.
He was part of the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series championship run as well.
But his future right now is uncertain.
It’s unlikely that he’ll leave the Dodgers if he decides to pitch again.
But the left-hander has dealt with various injuries over the past several years and isn’t quite the pitcher he once was.
In that case, the Dodgers have a difficult decision ahead of them.
Will they decide to keep Kershaw around, or will they ultimately let him go, potentially retiring or signing with another team?
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