Dodgers re-sign Clayton Kershaw to one-year, $20 million deal
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw wanted just a few days to make up his thoughts to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023.
After the Dodgers had an MLB-leading 111 victories through the common season solely to get ousted by the San Diego Padres within the NL Division Series, the star pitcher returned to his offseason house outdoors Dallas. He and his spouse, Ellen, talked issues over and the Dodgers received out once more.
Kershaw re-signed for one 12 months at $20 million with the NL West champions. The deal features a $5 million signing bonus payable on June 30, a wage of $15 million and a lodge suite on highway journeys.
“We just felt like our time wasn’t finished in LA,” he stated Monday through Zoom. “The way we ended stuff last year just feels like we got another run in us, so I’m excited to get back out there.”
For the second straight 12 months, the Dodgers didn’t lengthen a qualifying supply to the three-time Cy Young Award winner. Instead, they gave him further time to mull his future, and he as soon as once more determined to stick with the one franchise he’s ever performed for throughout his 15-year main league profession.
“I think it was my fault that it took so long to announce,” Kershaw stated. “I was kind of procrastinating getting all the MRIs. I figured they had seen this enough where they didn’t need all those, but I guess they still did.”
Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman stated on the winter conferences on Monday that discussions with Kershaw went nicely and that’s was a precedence to have him return.
“I think all things are right in the world when Kersh is wearing Dodger blue. I’m happy that he will be a big part of what we do next year,” Friedman stated.
The left-hander turns 35 in March. He had a few stints on the injured checklist final season.
Last winter, Kershaw didn’t decide up a baseball till January. This time, he started his throwing program on Monday.
“I feel good. I really do feel healthy,” he stated. “I’ll be able to take my time and build up. It’ll be like a normal offseason.”
Kershaw was a free agent a 12 months in the past, considering whether or not to return to the Dodgers, signal with the Texas Rangers to be nearer to house or retire. He went by way of the identical course of this time, talking with Rangers GM Chris Young.
“I want to pick the team first and then figure out the contract after that. I don’t want to be told where to play,” Kershaw stated. “That’s how I want to go about it the rest of my career and if there’s a few dollars left on the table, I’ll be okay with that.”
Texas signed pitcher Jacob DeGrom to an $185 million, five-year deal final week. Justin Verlander, whom the Dodgers had been all for, agreed to an $86.7 million, two-year cope with the New York Mets on Monday.
“Should I have held out?” Kershaw jokingly requested reporters earlier than rapidly including that he and his spouse “are so at peace with the way we’re doing things.”
“For me, it’s at all times going to be a call whether or not we really feel nice in LA or not,” the daddy of 4 stated.
Kershaw was 12-3 with 2.28 ERA in 22 begins final season. He struck out 137 and walked 23. He made his ninth All-Star group and began the Midsummer Classic for the primary time in his profession at Dodger Stadium.
Last April, he turned the franchise’s all-time strikeout chief with 2,697. He reached 2,800 strikeouts in his final begin of the common season on Oct. 5 towards Colorado. Kershaw ranks twenty fourth all-time with 2,807.
He has a profession file of 197-87 with a 2.48 ERA. He received his solely World Series title in 2020, when the Dodgers beat Tampa Bay after the pandemic-shortened season.
Kershaw will return to a modified group.
All-Star shortstop Trea Turner agreed to a $300 million, 11-year cope with Philadelphia on Monday after starring for the Dodgers final season. Third baseman Justin Turner and outfielder Cody Bellinger each had their choices declined by the Dodgers, though it’s attainable one or each may re-sign.
Friedman stated they’d discussions with Turner’s camp over the previous 12 months and had a great indication of how issues had been going to develop.
“I think the year and a half that he was with us, he impacted us in so many different ways,” Friedman stated. “It’s great for him. He deserves it. He’s a really good player, and Philly fans are really going to enjoy watching him play every day.”
“Hopefully, we don’t have too much of a different team, but who knows with what’s going to happen,” Kershaw stated. “The expertise is there. We have the items. It’s only a matter of being a greater group.”
Kershaw has but to resolve whether or not he’ll pitch within the World Baseball Classic in March.
“Obviously, it would be a huge honor to be able to do that,” he stated. “I’m still a little ways away from making that call.”
Friedman stated Kershaw is having conversations with pitching coach Mark Prior to see how his offseason exercise and throwing schedule may line up if he wished to take part.
