LA Dodgers reportedly reach agreement to bring back 3x Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw for 18th season

Clayton Kershaw will return for his 18th season with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025 after he reportedly re-signed with them on Tuesday.

LA Dodgers reportedly reach agreement to bring back 3x Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw for 18th season

Clayton Kershaw (Image via Imago)

A franchise icon is returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers for another season. On Tuesday, reports emerged that the team have reached an agreement to bring back 3-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw. The deal will be officially announced after his physical.

Kershaw was one of those stars who declined the club option after winning the World Series in 2024. The southpaw though did state that he was a “Dodger for Life” at the victory parade and was likely to re-sign with them in the offseason.

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On Sunday, reports had emerged that the Dodgers had agreed to re-sign utility player Kike Hernandez. With him being signed, Kershaw was the one the fans wanted the team to bring back now.

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Their wish has been fulfilled. As per reports from MLB.com, the 10-time MLB All-Star will return for his 18th season with the team in 2025. However, he will not be available to start the season as he underwent a toe and knee surgery in the offseason.

Injuries once plagued him in 2024. He only made 7 starts last year and went 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 24 strikeouts.

The 2025 season is an important one for him. The 36-year-old currently has 2,968 strikeouts and is 32 K’s away from joining the 3,000 strikeout club. If he does manage that, he will become just the 20th different pitcher to have over 3,000 strikeouts in MLB.

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Clayton Kershaw spotted at Spring Training camp even before deal is officially announced

There is no denying that Clayton Kershaw has a lot of love for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The American international has spent his entire career with them. On Tuesday, he reportedly agreed to return for another season. A few hours after the news of this broke out, he was spotted at the Spring Training at the Camelback ranch.

Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw (Image via X)

Pitchers and catchers of teams have started reporting to Spring Training this week. Kershaw, whose deal is yet to be announced officially by the team, was seen arriving at the camp.

Check out a video regarding that below:

Kershaw’s commitment to the team would receive praise from Miguel Rojas. The veteran infielder would laud his teammate for showing up on the first day.

His commitment to be [here] first day with the guys and being out there — he’s more than just a player. He shows what this organization is all about. It’s about being together from the beginning and … being unselfish in all capacities, and that’s what Kersh does, you know?

Miguel Rojas said as per MLB.com

One massive question that has come up now is – what will the Dodgers pitching rotation look like when all of them are fit? Clayton Kershaw and Shohei Ohtani are not expected to be part of this rotation at the start of the season.

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For now, the Dodgers pitching rotation will likely include new signees Roki Sasaki and Blake Snell along with Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The fifth starter could be either Dustin May or Tony Gonsolin. Once Ohtani and Kershaw are up for selection, coach Dave Roberts and his staff will have a big decision to make.