Clayton Kershaw raised some questions about his future with the Los Angeles Dodgers, saying that on Sunday he will “absolutely” consider signing with the team again after concluding his contract this season.
The future Hall of Fame pitcher will turn 33 less than two weeks before the start of the day and with that much elusive championship in his back pocket, there is a perception that this could be his last year of baseball, let alone with the Dodgers.
This perception was reinforced by a profile in Los Angeles Time published earlier this month, in which Kershaw said that he did not discuss an extension with the Dodgers and that he is not sure if he wants one.
“I’m from year to year,” Kershaw said during his first media availability of the season. “I want to re-evaluate at the end of each year and see how we do – as a family, personally, where we are as a team – and then make a decision from there. I have no intention of hanging them. I’m only 32 years old. I feel like I have years left in the tank.
“If you ask me right now, I really like to play, I feel healthy right now, I feel like the ball will come out well. I’m excited for this year and that’s exactly what I wanted to say. [by his answer in the LA Times profile] . I’m focused on this year and I’m trying to win a World Series, and after this year we’ll find out. “
Kershaw is a three-time Cy Young Award winner, who has already established his place as the first Hall of Famer. But he experienced something of a career renaissance during the shortened 2020 season, once again reaching lost speed to finish the regular season with an ERA of 2.16, 62 hits and just eight walks in 58 1/3 innings.
Kershaw signed a three-year extension of $ 93 million shortly after the 2018 season and will earn $ 31 million, some of it as a signing bonus, in the final year of his agreement.
The Dodgers will cross the luxury tax threshold this year and have accepted the strong possibility that they will do so again in 2022. They also have the imminent free agencies of Corey Seager (after the 2021 season), Cody Bellinger (after 2023) and Walker Buehler (after the 2021 season). 2024) to consider.
But these decisions are not expected to have an impact on their ability to retain Kershaw, a source familiar with the team’s thinking told ESPN. If Kershaw finally wants to stay in LA after 2021, the Dodgers would be motivated to find a way to do so.
“I like being here,” Kershaw said. “I love the Dodgers, I like everything about this organization. I feel very happy that I had as many opportunities as I had to win a World Series, and now that I have finally won one, I don’t have to take that for granted. I really enjoyed my time here and continue to do so. “