UPDATE (Feb. 9): The financials of the deal are finally being released, with the following information coming from 'The Athletic.'
Clayton Kershaw’s new Dodgers contract includes $10 million guaranteed with a chance to make more, league sources told The Athletic.
The deal, which The Athletic first reported was a one-year deal with a player option for 2025, includes a base salary of $5 million each year with a chance for the 36-year-old franchise icon to boost that salary based on the number of starts he makes this season.
Kershaw’s salary can max out at roughly $12 million in 2024. How much he can make in 2025 will depend on how much he pitches this coming season, the sources said.
UPDATE (Feb 6), 12:27 p.m. ET: The deal is official, though there are no figures at this point. It will be Kershaw's 17th season in the big leagues, all with the Dodgers.
12:20 p.m. ET: According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, there is a "growing belief" that left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw will sign a deal to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
However, because of injury, he won't be able to pitch until the second half of the season.
Per Heyman:
There’s growing belief in the game alltime great LHP Clayton Kershaw will return to the Dodgers for at least a 17th season, sources tell me and @Joelsherman1
The Cooperstown bound Kershaw had a 2.46 ERA in 2023 (below 2.48 career mark) but won’t be ready to pitch at start of 2024
Sherman added this note as well:
Kershaw had shoulder surgery on 11/3. Not expected to return (at earliest) until 2d half. 1st day Dodgers can put a player on the 60-man IL and not use a 40-man roster spot is Thursday, so could be waiting until then to finalize a deal.
If Kershaw wants to return, it could very well be because he wants his second World Series ring. He helped the Dodgers win the World Series in 2020 but after adding Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow this offseason, Los Angeles appears to be the favorite in the National League - along with the Braves.
When he's healthy, Kershaw could help the rotation as well. Walker Buehler is just returning from Tommy John surgery, James Paxton has injury concerns, Ohtani can't pitch in 2024 after surgery, and several other youngsters like Bobby Miller haven't gone through the rigors of a full season. Yoshinobu Yamamoto hasn't either.
One of the best pitchers in baseball history, Kershaw is 210-92 lifetime with a 2.48 ERA. He is a 10-time All-Star, a five-time ERA title winner, a three-time Cy Young winner and an MVP winner.
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