Clayton Kershaw’s future with the Los Angeles Dodgers is still bright.
The veteran, who will miss most of the first half this season, is expected to make a full recovery from multiple surgeries and return for the second half.
General manager Brandon Gomes said in an interview on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast that “the hope and expectation” for the left-hander is to return in 2025.
“We’ve continued to talk with Kersh and the hope and expectation is that he’s back with us this year,” Gomes said. “Seems like that’s in a good spot.”
When Kershaw does return to the Dodgers, he will join a starting rotation that might be the best Los Angeles has ever seen. It is expected to be a six-man rotation with the likes of Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, Tony Gonsolin, Landon Knack, Bobby Miller and Dustin May potentially playing roles.
The previous update Gomes gave regarding Kershaw’s offseason foot and knee surgeries stated that while he has progressed in his throwing program, he has yet to start throwing off a mound.
Kershaw is considered one of the greatest pitchers in Dodgers history. While he declined his $10 million player option for 2025 in November, many expected the veteran left-hander to return.
During the postseason, the future Hall of Famer emphasized his desire to retire as a Dodger, further supporting the belief that he would re-sign with Los Angeles.
A three-time NL Cy Young winner and the 2014 National League MVP, Kershaw is not only a Dodgers legend but also one of the most dominant pitchers of his era.
He is destined for Cooperstown as a first-ballot selection.
During his prime from 2011 to 2017, he recorded a 2.10 ERA and tallied 1,623 strikeouts over 207 starts. Seven of his 10 All-Star selections came during that span.
Kershaw enters 2025 with a career record of 212-94, and he is only 32 strikeouts shy of 3,000.
He is also in the top five of the Dodgers leaderboards in pitcher’s WAR, wins, W-L percentage, WHIP, H/9, K/9, innings, strikeouts and games started.
