Clayton Kershaw's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Left-hander Clayton Kershaw's new deal to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2024 season also includes an option for 2025, according to a person briefed on the negotiations. Kershaw is rehabbing from a major shoulder injury that required surgery in November and won't return until later this summer, but the option gives him a chance to spend an additional full season with the Dodgers while sharing the starting rotation with Shohei Ohtani. The 36-year-old southpaw will be put on the 60-day injured list when his deal becomes official after a physical, but the future Hall of Famer began a throwing program this week. He still has several months before he'll appear in games, but he can now return to LA in 202. Kershaw needs only 56 strikeouts to join the 3,000-strikeout club.

Free-agent left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) has agreed to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers for yet another season with the team, pending a physical, according to Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman. The 35-year-old continues to be a vital part of the team's rotation despite his age, as he posted a 2.46 ERA in 2023 with 1.06 walks and hits per inning pitched in 131 2/3 innings. The Dodgers' massive offseason wouldn't be complete without bringing back one of their legends. Kershaw had surgery on his left shoulder in November and won't be ready to pitch until at least the second half of 2024, but when he's ready, he's expected to join a starting rotation that now includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow.

Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said the door is still open for the team to bring back free-agent left-hander Clayton Kershaw, even after some of the club's starting-rotation additions this winter. The 35-year-old future Hall of Famer is basically either going to re-sign with LA, go to the Texas Rangers or retire. He had surgery in November to fix the gleno-humeral ligaments and capsule in his left shoulder and is hoping to return at some point this summer. Kershaw's age and recent injury history make it tough to predict how he'll fare if he continues his career and plays in the second half of 2024, but he pitched well when he was healthy in 2023, going 13-5 over 24 starts (131 2/3 innings) while posting a 2.46 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 40 walks and 137 strikeouts. Kershaw's fantasy stock is obviously way down because of his injury and the uncertainty of where he'll play.