The Los Angeles Dodgers have spent more than $1 billion in free agency this winter. Could they put a bow on a crazy offseason by eventually re-signing franchise legend and future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw, or will he bolt for his hometown Texas Rangers?
As MLB's 2024 regular season continues creeping closer, it will be Kershaw's 17th in the big leagues. He's spent every single one of his first 16 seasons with the Dodgers. He re-signed with the club soon after free agency opened up last winter, but his trip into the open market this year is much different.
The southpaw isn't expected to be ready to appear in MLB games until at least the middle of the season, though. He underwent shoulder surgery in early November to fix his glenohumeral ligaments and shoulder capsule. Kershaw shared the news himself via his Instagram account right after it happened.
Since he's not close to being part of a big-league rotation yet, the three-time National League Cy Young Award winner is taking things slowly regarding his future. Chris Taylor, his longtime Dodgers teammate, recently hinted that Kershaw may not even decide on where he'll sign until after the regular season is underway.
"We all hope to have Kersh back. He's in a little different scenario this offseason. I don't think he's quite in a rush to make his decision. I think he's enjoying this offseason. He had surgery, so he's not available to pitch until the end of the year," Taylor said via the Dodgers Nation YouTube channel. "So I wouldn't be surprised if he made his decision even as the season was going on. But of course, I think everybody wants him in Dodger Blue come October."
Even though we may not be close to a decision, Kershaw is down to two teams, per MLB.com: the Dodgers and Rangers. Texas' interest in the left-hander isn't new — they've been connected to him in the rumor mill in recent years, as well.
Kershaw is originally from Dallas, Texas and the Rangers just won the 2023 World Series, so it could be tempting to finish his career with his childhood team. But then again, the Dodgers look primed for World Series run after reeling in the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Teoscar Hernandez, among others.
