Clayton Kershaw to rejoin Los Angeles Dodgers for 17th season
The Los Angeles Dodgers will get yet another year with future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw, announcing a deal that will keep the left-handed ace with the team for his 17th season.
Though Kershaw isn't expected to toe the bump until midseason after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, he will become the third-longest tenured Dodger with the new contract, which includes a player option for the 2025 season, according to a statement from the team.
The now 35-year-old still dazzled in 2023, putting up a 13-5 record with a 2.46 ERA and 137 strikeouts in 131 2/3 innings, walking just 40 batters. His postseason disappointments continued, however, as he was shelled in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Arizona Diamondbacks, giving up six runs in just 1/3 of an inning pitched.
Upon his return, he'll join what is now indisputably Major League Baseball's best rotation, after the Dodgers inked Japanese superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year contract and landing right-handed ace Tyler Glasnow in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Walker Buehler is expected to make his long-awaited return from Tommy John surgery and now second-year Bobby Miller will look to continue what was an impressive start to his big league career.
The team also signed a historic contract with baseball's biggest name in Shohei Ohtani, but the two-way phenom won't take the mound next season after undergoing his own surgery after the 2023 season.
Over the course of his incredible career, Kershaw has earned three National League Cy Young Awards, one MVP Award, one World Series Championship and is a 10-time All-Star. He took home the NL's Triple Crown for pitchers in 2011 and has one no-hitter to his name in 2014.
He's got a career record of 210-92 with an impressive 2.48 ERA and 2,944 strikeouts. He's likely to join the exalted 3,000 K club should he take the mound for an extended period of time next season.
