Because the Dodgers rejoice their World Collection victory as we speak, left-hander Clayton Kershaw knowledgeable reporters that he shall be on the surgeon’s desk subsequent week, with work to be finished on his left toe and left knee.
He missed time this 12 months attributable to bone spurs in his left large toe, however the issues evidently transcend that, as he additionally has a ruptured plantar plate. The knee surgical procedure shall be to right a torn meniscus. Particulars have been relayed by varied reporters, together with Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic (X hyperlinks). His return timeline is unclear at this level.
Kershaw, 37 in March, has a legendary profession however his most up-to-date seasons have been outlined by his well being points. As a result of varied illnesses, he hasn’t tossed 135 innings in a season since 2019.
It was nearly precisely a 12 months in the past, on November 3 of 2023, that the lefty introduced he had undergone shoulder surgical procedure. Since that process was going to maintain him out till midseason, he and the Dodgers reunited on a deal that mirrored his well being standing.
It was technically a two-year deal, with Kershaw assured $5MM in each 2024 and 2025 however with the second season being a participant choice. The deal additionally included quite a lot of incentives that might enable Kershaw to extend each the worth of his 2024 wage and 2025 participant choice based mostly on video games began.
As he tried to return to the membership this summer season, he was slowed by some shoulder soreness throughout his rehab, getting reinstated in late July. In simply over a month on the roster, Kershaw made seven begins with a 4.50 earned run common earlier than touchdown on the injured record as a result of aforementioned bone spurs in his toe.
He tried to get again into recreation form because the season was winding down however wasn’t profitable. At present’s information offers a bit extra readability on what precisely Kershaw was up towards whereas making an attempt to get again on the sector.
By making seven begins this 12 months, Kershaw unlocked escalators price $5MM on his 2025 choice, bringing the worth to $10MM. Although he’s set for one more offseason of surgical procedure and rehab, he reiterated as we speak that he plans on coming again subsequent 12 months.
He might do this just by triggering the $10MM choice, or maybe he and the membership will negotiate some new pact. His current free agent journeys have been characterised as him primarily deciding between returning to the Dodgers versus signing along with his hometown Texas Rangers. Throughout as we speak’s celebrations, Kershaw appeared to erase any thriller about which jersey he could be carrying subsequent 12 months. He declared himself a “Dodger for all times,” per Ardaya on X.
Every time he returns, he’ll slot right into a Dodger rotation that presently initiatives to incorporate Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin Might, Landon Knack and others.. Guys like Emmet Sheehan, River Ryan or Kyle Damage might consider as soon as they get better from their Tommy John surgical procedures. The Dodgers may also probably make offseason strikes that alter their rotation image, both through free company or commerce.
