Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw Has 'No Idea' if He'll Pitch Next Season
Clayton Kershaw has been a mainstay in the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting rotation since he first made his debut as a 20-year-old in May 2008.
Now, 15 years since that debut that came less than two years removed from pitching against high schoolers, Kershaw is no longer that fresh faced young prospect. At 35, he's a man now, with a family and a baseball career that's now approaching its final chapter.
Kershaw has signed successive one-year deals with the Dodgers in the past two offseasons, decisions that could be interpreted as an acknowledgment of an uncertain future as far as the diamond is concerned.
The future Hall of Famer has made it known over the past few years that he wants to be around his loved ones, and he told USA Today's Bob Nightengale that returning next season is not a guarantee.
“I have four kids, a wife, I have too many factors when it comes to baseball," Kershaw says. “I don’t want to diminish how much I like playing here, but I’m at a point where I have to take everything in consideration. I’m weighing a lot of factors. It might take a few months after the season to make a decision.“
"Last year was easy for me to come back. This year, I honestly have no idea."
It's definitely understandable that Kershaw's family is a high priority, as having a professional career while raising children isn't an easy task for a multitude of reasons.
On the field, Kershaw -- currently on the 15-day injured list after an excellent start to the season -- also wants to be performing at a high level if he were to come back, both on the mound and health-wise.
“I still love to play, but I have not been able to stay healthy for a full year," Kershaw says, “and that is the worst for me. You just feel like you’re not part of it. That’s hard for me too.
“If I come back [in 2024], I want to be good. You can’t come back halfway, you got to be all of the way in. You can’t just show up and say, “All right guys, here I am.’ You got to earn your spot, especially the kind of money you’re going to get paid."
The mental toll of injuries is understandable too, and that may well be a factor as to whether Kershaw returns.
He's done everything possible on the field for the Dodgers and is unquestionably one of the best in MLB history. He's been a constant presence in blue for LA for a decade and a half, and his career will be coming to a close at some point in the not-too-distant future.
Whether this chapter for Clayton Kershaw ends after 2023 will be a decision for him and his family.
But his time on major league mounds may be coming to an end in just a few short months.
And whatever happens, we wish him the best.
