Clayton Kershaw appears to be back in Los Angeles on a one-year deal, according to a report by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The Dodgers have not confirmed the deal, that he would be subject to a physical.
With Kershaw approaching his 34th birthday on the 19th of this month, the biggest question mark is his health. He spent more than two months on the disabled list in 2021 with left elbow inflammation. He returned in mid-September and then had to come back out in his fourth start on Oct. 1 with a sore left forearm, keeping him out of the Dodgers’ postseason run.
With his advancing age and workload history — 1,643.2 stretches, including the postseason — his speed and dominance have been slipping. Despite that, Kershaw remains an effective pitcher, posting a 3.55 ERA in 2021.
Regardless of the fate of his career, Kershaw’s future at Cooperstown is secure. His long list of accolades includes eight All-Star appearances, five ERA titles, three Cy Young Awards, an MVP award and a Gold Glove Award.
