The Dodgers announced today that they’ve officially activated legendary southpaw Clayton Kershaw from the disabled list, optioning lefty Adam Liberatore to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
It was reported yesterday that Kershaw was set to forego a rehab assignment and start tonight’s game. The three-time Cy Young Award-winner has only made eight starts to date this season, which haven’t been quite on par with his usual standards; the lefty owns a 3.47 FIP in 2018 to go with 53 strikeouts against 11 walks in 49 innings. While still respectable, that FIP would be Kershaw’s highest mark since his rookie season in 2008.
The 30-year-old will finally get a chance to re-establish his value in advance of a potential bout with free agency. It’s widely-known that Kershaw can opt out of the remaining two years and $65MM on his contract in order to test the open market, but a hurler who has long been known as the most dominant in the game suddenly has an injury reputation after missing time in each of the past three seasons with back issues. How he performs the rest of the season and whether he stays healthy will both have an impact on whether the future Hall of Famer ends up a free agent at the end of the year.
Liberatore has spent his entire major-league career with the Dodgers, pitching in parts of each season since his debut in 2015. He owns a lifetime ERA of 3.55 in the majors to go along with 9.44 K/9 and 3.65 BB/9. His control appears to have gotten away from him this season, however, as that walk rate has spiked to 5.54 BB/9 (though in an admittedly small 13-inning sample size). Liberatore has pitched fewer than one inning in eight of his 17 appearances on the season.
Love to see what the “Oh his career is over, he’s going to retire” people in the Kershaw injury threads, will say
I think it’s certainly possible that we’re already out of Kershaw’s legendary period of dominance, but it’s also silly to suggest that his career is over or nearing its end. The injuries are worrisome, sure, but he’s still been effective, though below his standards, when on the mound.
He’s barely 30…lol at his career being over
Chronic Back injuries
First how about we see if he can stay off the DL.
I agree that Kershaw probably will pitch effectively for several more seasons, albeit not in his prime form. The latest string of DL stints makes that opt-out decision much closer than it is likely to have been.
Would your team offer Kershaw 5/100 knowing everything we do right now? Would the Dodgers? Is $100MM guaranteed vs. $65MM guaranteed enough for Kershaw to bolt?
This site usually does a great job of objective reporting, but this post had some unnecessary phrases. “Legendary southpaw” seems a bit grand. “Future Hall of Famer” despite less than 200 wins and 2500 strike outs is an assumption and “a hurler who has long been known as the most dominant in the game” is something with the rise of Max Scherzer that is also an unneeded phrase. while something like the statement “3 time Cy Young Award Winner” is factually true, the others are not facts.
Bruh, he’s a bonafide hall of famer if he retired today.
So does mean Max is a HOF if he retired today?
Yes
His ERA has never been above 3 in any season after his rookie campaign. Dont know what sport your watching but in baseball that is legendary
LOL.
Kershaw is easily going to be a hall of famer and will be remembered as the best (maybe co-best with Scherzer) pitcher of his time.
Thank you, Professor.
If Kershaw retired today, he’s going into the HOF. His peak is truly one of the greatest of all time.
Haven’t you heard? Opinions are facts nowadays.
I feel like Kershaw’s contract situation is going to be the biggest moot point of the offseason.
He will most likely opt out but I don’t think anyone else would be able to sign him given that he’ll be looking for 30M and now has an extensive injury history. No pitcher is superhuman, even though he’s been amazing. He is going to stay in LA.
Also , even though it’s a tired meme, if he retires today, I don’t think he’s had enough memorable postseason starts to be a bonafide HOF.
I think if hes not a Hall of famer today , he will be. The hall of fame is voted on by desk jockeys that never set foot on a baseball field so they go by what they see on paper and thats gonna be more than enough when his time has come.
Kyle you still didn’t remove “legendary” ?
I think it’d be criminal if Kershaw wasn’t 1st ballot HOF, but Thought “legendary” was typo or prank played on you.
Think ur being hyperbolic, even by mlbtr standards. (none) you a Dodger fan bro? Haha
love your work though. (So pls don’t take it disrespectfully)
He’s dominated the game the last decade and is a sure HOFer….much like Koufax and Dean were. But the question is his health and if he decides to opt out…..is he worth a bigger contract? Can the Dodgers or any team count on him being healthy? He’s been injured this year and the two previous seasons.
For what it is worth I think that his dominance over the regular season for ten straight years is worthy of the HOF.It is quibbling but he has to at least be in the top three pitchers over that period so that rates as HOF in my mind.
His lack of success in the post season and the possible shortness of his career probably negate the word “legendary”.
I cannot see anyone in his position turning down a guaranteed $65 M for just two years of work given his recent injury history and last year’s market regarding pitchers.
Kershaw was 90-92 with his FB, his command was not good, and he got knocked around a bit. This is not the Kershaw of old. Would not be surprised to see him back on the DL sooner rather than later.
It’s great that Kershaw was able to avoid the excessive travel to play in a AAA game, when he could face a AAA quality lineup like the Mets.
Put a fork in him. Back injuries are tough you can’t just work through them. He’s probably going to opt in then he’s going to retire no way he makes the Hall of Fame!