The Los Angeles Dodgers have finally landed Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki. Despite all the ifs and buts involved in the deal, the team outran two of the other finalists who were speculated to be the landing spot for Sasaki. However, they are at a roadblock with what they will do with Clayton Kershaw.
Currently, the Dodgers’ rotation for 2025 is stacked. In addition to Sasaki, LA has Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who are already on a star-studded roster. The list also includes Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin, and Dustin May as well. While the team has no shortage of talent, durability is a major concern for them. Most of these arms are coming off significant injuries. And that makes an interesting fitting for Kershaw as a sixth starter in what might become a six-man rotation to ease workloads.
Still not sure if people are ready for the Dodgers to throw out the greatest 9 man rotation in MLB history next season
— Baseball Doesn't Exist (@BaseballDoesnt) January 3, 2025
Blake Snell
Shohei Ohtani
Yoshinobu Yamamotto
Roki Sasaki
Tyler Glasnow
Bobby Miller
Dustin May
Clayton Kershaw
Tony Gonsolin pic.twitter.com/3BKncaqptD
Kershaw, 36, has struggled with injuries himself, managing just seven starts in 2024. However, his legacy is untouchable. He has three Cy Young Awards, an MVP, two World Series rings, and a likely first-ballot Hall of Fame induction to his name. He’s been the face of the franchise since debuting in 2008, and the thought of him in another uniform seems unfathomable. Yet, the Dodgers’ current roster crunch makes his future uncertain.
Though it’s hard to picture Kershaw in anything but Dodger blue, we can’t ignore the possibility that he might sign elsewhere. His hometown, Texas Rangers, has a glaring hole in their rotation and has shown a willingness to spend big this offseason. For Kershaw, pitching closer to home might hold some appeal, especially as he approaches the twilight of his career.
Clayton Kershaw Remains Optimistic Despite Injury Struggles
While it is still safe to say that Kershaw will get a call back from the Dodgers camp, he has other struggles. The veteran lefty announced his intention to pitch again in 2025 despite facing a challenging season plagued by injuries. During a Fox pregame broadcast in October, Kershaw expressed his positive mindset.
“Mentally, I feel great. I had shoulder surgery last offseason, and my shoulder and elbow, everything, my arm, feels great. Obviously, I had some tough luck with my foot this year. But I want to make use of this surgery. I don’t want to have surgery and shut it down. So I’m gonna come back next year and give it a go and see how it goes,” Kershaw said as per CBS Sports.
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Clayton Kershaw told the Fox pregame show he plans to keep playing next year (he has a player option for 2025):
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) October 14, 2024
“Mentally, I feel great. I had shoulder surgery last offseason, and my shoulder and elbow, everything, my arm, feels great. Obviously, I had some tough luck with my… https://t.co/rpj5L3mw1n
After undergoing shoulder surgery last offseason, he reported that his arm feels strong. However, he had to cope with a bone spur in his toe that kept him sidelined since August 30. Determined to make the most of his recovery, the star pitcher is eager to return to the mound soon.
He was limited to just seven starts and 30 innings in the season, but Kershaw’s track record speaks for itself. He has a decorated resume with 212 career wins, a stellar ERA+ of 156, and a WAR of 76.5. With his current contract including a player option for 2025 at $5 million, Kershaw’s commitment to the Dodgers remains strong, as he plans to utilize that option.
Also Read: REPORT: MLB Finds No Wrongdoing Between Roki Sasaki And The Dodgers After Investigation
