Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw's new deal includes $10 million guaranteed with a chance to make more, according to league sources. It's a one-year deal with a player option for 2025 and includes a base salary of $5 million each year with a chance for the 36-year-old southpaw to boost his salary based on the number of starts he makes this year. His salary can max out at around $12 million in 2024. The three-time Cy Young winner and future Hall of Famer had the capsule and gleno-humeral ligaments in his left shoulder repaired in November and will not pitch at all in the first half of the season. Kershaw is in the second week of a throwing program and is targeting a "July-ish, August-ish" timetable to return later this year.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (elbow) said he feels like a rookie again in Dodgers camp and feels like he's healthy and ready to start spring training as a hitter after having elbow surgery last year. The 29-year-old Japanese All-Star also said he's swinging the bat at 100 percent effort. The next step for Ohtani will be to face live pitching at spring training, which will come in time. The Dodgers are going to be extremely careful with their prized free-agent acquisition this spring, but he should be fully ready to go for Opening Day in 2024 as LA's primary designated hitter. He won't pitch at all this year after having right-elbow surgery, but Ohtani's bat will be extremely valuable in all fantasy leagues in a much better lineup with the Dodgers.

Right-hander Corey Kluber officially announced his retirement from professional baseball on Friday. The 37-year-old starter was never really the same pitcher once he left the Cleveland Guardians, and injuries ended up derailing his career the last several seasons. He appeared in only 15 games (nine starts) for the Boston Red Sox in 2023 and had a rough 7.04 ERA (7.11 FIP), a 1.64 WHIP, one save, 21 walks and 42 strikeouts in 55 innings pitched. In his prime, though, Kluber was one of the better pitchers in the game and he made three straight All-Star appearances from 2016-18. Kluber also won two American League Cy Young awards in his 13-year MLB career, ultimately finishing with a 3.44 ERA (3.23 FIP) and 1.13 WHIP with a 25.8 percent strikeout rate in 1,641 2/3 innings pitched with Cleveland, the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and Red Sox.

Houston Astros outfielder Jake Meyers should have a long leash as the team's starting center fielder in 2024, according to The Athletic's Chandler Rome. Both general manager Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada seem committed to giving Meyers as much everyday playing time as possible. But ultimately, his production will determine how long he stays in the lineup on a consistent basis. If Meyers does struggle, the Astros could look somewhere other than utility man Mauricio Dubon to replace him. Moving Chas McCormick to center field and using Yordan Alvarez in left field would be the more likely scenario. The 27-year-old Meyers hit .227/.296/.382 with a career-high 10 home runs, 33 RBI and five steals in 112 games in 2023. His glove is much more attractive than his bat at the moment.

Free-agent right-hander Luis Perdomo agreed to a minor-league deal that includes an invitation to major-league spring training on Thursday with the Washington Nationals, according to sources. Perdomo increased his value in the big leagues after posting a 2.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, one save, 15 walks and 41 strikeouts in 50 2/3 relief innings for Chiba Lotte of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan last year. The 30-year-old Dominican hurler has made 61 starts in six career seasons in the majors, but he's most likely to stick in a relief role as he tries to earn a roster spot in Washington's bullpen out of spring training. Perdomo is off the fantasy radar altogether and has a 5.12 ERA (4.46 FIP) and 1.49 WHIP in 468 career major-league innings over 147 appearances (61 starts).