After an early playoff exit in 2022, the Los Angeles Dodgers already started thinking about their moves for the next MLB season. And according to the team’s president Andrew Friedman, one of them is making sure ace Clayton Kershaw is back with the franchise once the 2023 campaign begins.
Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Friedman said that the Dodgers have “strong hope” they’ll keep Kershaw around despite the fact that he’ll be a free agent this coming offseason.
“Nothing has changed,” Friedman said on Tuesday. “My strong hope is that Clayton Kershaw is pitching here next year.”
Friedman also added that the organization intends to give Kershaw the time he needs to figure out “what makes the most sense” for his family before making the final decision.
The Dodgers didn’t want to make a big commitment to Kershaw after an injury-plagued 2021 campaign and instead signed him to a one-year, $17 million deal in March. The 34-year-old responded with an All-Star campaign that saw him post a 12-3 record as a starter with a 2.28 ERA and 137 strikeouts.
Coming off a strong year, there is no doubt that Kershaw might attract interest from other teams looking for an experienced pitcher. However, the chances of him actually accepting to leave Los Angeles seem slim. He spent his entire career with the Dodgers and is already considered one of the best players in the franchise’s history.
The most likely scenario is that the Dodgers and Kershaw work out a new deal, possibly for two or more years. However, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if Kershaw decides to call it quits and retire from baseball.
