Written By: Trevor Filkins
Edited By: John Aidala
Another year, another Clayton Kershaw 1-year deal. For the fourth year in a row, Kershaw has inked a deal with the Dodgers to return to his perch atop the Chavez Ravine mound at Dodger Stadium.
After signing two-one year deals in 2022 and 2023 worth $17 million and $20 million respectively, Kershaw began to see a substantial drop in his salary with a 2024 season worth $5 million and a second year player option for 2025 worth $10 million. In the offseason, he declined his player option of ten million but still managed to get at least one more one year deal signed before he hangs it up. It will truly be interesting how he will fare this year, injuries have plagued his last few seasons in Dodger blue. At long last, he will remain a Dodger for the 2025 season.
Kershaw is arguably the greatest starting pitcher in the history of baseball. Very few careers make the case in that conversation, but the numbers speak for themselves. While from a sample size standpoint he may not stand out, his career ERA at 2.50 ranks 1st among starting pitchers to debut since 1920 and toss over 1500 IP. If you want to take the entire baseball era and all who've competed into consideration, Kershaw has a career ERA+ (which adjusts ERA for the time period of the pitcher and juxtaposes it with ERA’s of the contemporary) of 156 which is tied for first among MLB starting pitchers all-time. He is tied with Jacob deGrom who has less than half the innings of Kershaw. While these may just be two surface level stats, it reveals the dominance of Kershaw throughout his major league career. He will attempt to surpass the 3,000 strikeout threshold this season and cement himself as an indisputable first ballot hall of famer.
Loyalty to one team is an extreme rariety in sports today. I do believe it says something that Kershaw remained loyal to LA all of these years and turned down those who attempted to convince him to jump ship. As Kershaw enters his 18th year with the big league team, it is only fitting he should remain a Dodger for the rest of his career. It is likely that given his recent injury history he won't surpass the 100 inning mark this season, rather just provide a few filler innings if any for the already stacked Dodgers rotation. With the signing of Japanese phenom, Roki Sasaki, Kershaw could have to work for his spot as Snell, Glasnow, Yamamoto, Shohei, Gonsolin and Sasaki all are highly capable arms
Not to mention they still have the option of adding in youngsters like Dustin May, Emmet Sheehan, Landon Knack, River Ryan, and Bobby Miller. Add on to that, they have two of the top 100 prospects in Roki Sasaki at 1 and Jackson Ferris at 71. Therefore, it would be no crime to say that the Dodgers have 2 MLB rotations over.
Easily the best pitcher of this generation and quite possibly the best pitcher in the history of baseball, The Claw is back. His residuals are not looking highly promising for the upcoming season and it is likely we will see Kersh with numbers much hovering near the league average. However, I know less than to doubt the fiery competitor that he is. With Kershaw’s drop in velocity, his fastball might be batting practice at this point, but his slider and curveball are still elite offerings. Might we even see a few new pitches in the repertoire this year once he returns from shoulder surgery? Perhaps a sinker or an improved splitter to deviate from that underwhelming fastball is an alternative. He might need to enlist the help of his Japanese counterparts to master the art of the splitter. It is truly unpredictable to forecast how will fare this season with his health or role with the team, but at long last he will remain a Dodger.