Clayton Kershaw has been compelled to observe the Dodgers’ playoff run from the dugout as a result of bone spurs in his left large toe, which capped off an injury-marred season that noticed him pitch a career-low 30 innings. Regardless of these obstacles, Kershaw advised the Fox Sports activities pregame crew right now (video hyperlink) that he plans to return for his 18th Main League season.
Referring to the shoulder process he underwent final November, Kershaw stated “I need to make use of this surgical procedure, you realize? I don’t need to have surgical procedure and shut it down. So I’m gonna come again subsequent 12 months and provides it a go and see the way it goes.” Whereas he referred to his bone spurs as “some robust luck,” Kershaw stated that in any other case, “my shoulder and elbow, the whole lot, my arm, feels nice.”
Accidents have been an omnipresent a part of Kershaw’s story for the final a number of seasons, and he has overtly thought-about retirement earlier than ultimately deciding to maintain pitching usually, and maintain pitching for the Dodgers. With a 4.50 ERA over his 30 frames in his age-36 season, this marked the primary time Kershaw confirmed any decline in efficiency amidst his well being issues — whereas restricted to 258 innings over the 2022-23 seasons, Kershaw nonetheless had a 2.37 ERA and was an All-Star in each campaigns.
Kershaw didn’t give any trace as as to if or not one other surgical procedure may be required to handle his bone spurs, although that may appear the logical plan of action for what has seemingly been a longer-term concern. (Los Angeles supervisor Dave Roberts stated in August that Kershaw had been coping with the bone spurs for a number of years.) Till we all know if such a process is even required or not, it’s too quickly to say if Kershaw may be totally able to go when the Dodgers begin their Spring Coaching camp in February. His shoulder rehab delayed his 2024 debut till July 25.
Whereas rehabbing from the shoulder surgical procedure, Kershaw delayed his subsequent contract till February 2024, when he rejoined the Dodgers on a two-year, $10MM assure. The contract is particularly a $5MM deal for the 2024 season after which a minimal $5MM participant choice for 2025 that Kershaw will presumably train. As per the phrases of the contract, Kershaw earned an additional $2.5MM in 2024 wage, and an additional $5MM on his participant choice, so he’ll now financial institution one other $10MM by selecting up his participant choice. It’s attainable Kershaw and the Dodgers may work out an extension of some form to lock in that wage and tack on another choice for 2026, to offer each side flexibility ought to Kershaw need to maintain pitching for yet one more season.
Although Kershaw may nonetheless discover himself with a World Sequence ring in a couple of weeks’ time, it isn’t shocking that he isn’t contemplating ending his profession on the low be aware of a 30-inning season. He even had a 2.63 ERA in his first 5 begins earlier than permitting eight runs over his final six innings pitched, presumably when the returned discomfort from his toe began to impression his efficiency. If Kershaw can stay as wholesome as attainable for a 37-year-old pitcher along with his damage historical past, it isn’t onerous to think about that he can nonetheless ship high quality manufacturing.
After struggling via a mountain of pitching accidents this season, the Dodgers technically have a full employees value of choices for 2025, even when each accessible arm has a point of well being issues. As famous by The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman acknowledged over the weekend that the workforce might use a six-man rotation with a view to assist maintain everybody wholesome, and to supply extra relaxation for Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto particularly. Ohtani didn’t pitch in 2024 as a result of UCL surgical procedure and naturally has the added workload of his DH duties, whereas the Dodgers have been protecting Yamamoto on the Japan-like schedule of pitching with not less than 5 days of relaxation.
Between that duo and Kershaw, Tyler Glasnow missed the top of the season and the playoffs as a result of an elbow pressure, Tony Gonsolin didn’t pitch in 2024 whereas recovering from a Tommy John surgical procedure, and Dustin Could didn’t pitch in 2024 as a result of recoveries from a pair of arm procedures in July 2023 after which a throat surgical procedure in July of this 12 months. Bobby Miller, Landon Knack, Justin Wrobleski, and prospect Jackson Ferris are different arms that determine to be a part of the rotation combine. It additionally stands to motive that L.A. will certainly add one other pitcher or two this offseason to assist safeguard this group towards any additional damage hits.
