Free agent starter Clayton Kershaw spoke publicly for the first time since announcing he underwent shoulder surgery on November 3. In a chat with David Vassegh of 570 AM’s Dodger Talk, the three-time Cy Young winner indicated he’s recovering nicely in the first five weeks after the operation.
“I think I’m doing really well. I don’t have a lot to compare it to. I’ve never had surgery before, but I really do feel great, all things considered,” Kershaw told Vassegh. “I’m doing a lot of movement stuff now, starting to strengthen it. … I’m excited to pitch again, and I really do think it’ll be this summer at some point. I feel good about that.”
A summer return is in line with what Kershaw projected in the immediate aftermath of the procedure. It’s nevertheless encouraging to hear he remains on that track after the earliest stages of his rehab process. While the 35-year-old has loosely floated the possibility of retiring in previous offseasons, he reiterated this evening that he’s not considering stepping away at this point.
Kershaw indicated he has the support of his family to continue playing. He added that he didn’t want to conclude his career on what would’ve been a very sour note. Kershaw, working with clearly diminished stuff as he pitched through the shoulder pain, was hammered for six runs without getting out of the first inning in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Diamondbacks. Arizona swept that series en route to the pennant.
The 10-time All-Star declined to speculate on where he expects to play in 2024 or when he might sign. It’s hard to envision the career-long Dodger in another uniform. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has repeatedly expressed that the organization would welcome Kershaw back for as long as he wants to continue pitching.
L.A. has Bobby Miller and Walker Buehler anchoring the rotation. Ryan Pepiot currently projects as the #3 starter, but his name has been floated in chatter about a potential trade for Rays ace Tyler Glasnow. Pitchers like Emmet Sheehan, Michael Grove and Ryan Yarbrough are in the mix at the back end.
Regardless of Kershaw’s decision, the Dodgers figure to bring in multiple starters. If Kershaw were to re-sign, he’d join Dustin May as potential midseason injury returnees. May underwent a flexor tendon procedure in early July. Tony Gonsolin, who had Tommy John surgery in late August, appears likely to miss the entire season.
Kershaw Texas Ranger >deGrom Texas Ranger
He can end his career on a better note by helping Texas repeat!
If they acquired Bueller, they could have Walker Texas Ranger.
Not to mention people calling “Buehler? Buehler?”
That’s a good name. I’ve always called him Walker Ferris Buehler
Rangers are stacked but imo I think they need to invest in that bullpen more to build my confidence that they can repeat. Otherwise, they are kinda like they were for most people last year, scary but a coin flip
How’s that? He isn’t very good in the playoffs.
*eyeroll*
Roll eye
egg roll
You wanna walk this one back now?
It was neither
Pretty sure Clayton resigns with the Dodgers.
For certain. As much as some like to make it a question every single year, it isn’t one, and never was.
Nooo! I don’t want Kershaw. It’s a sweet happy ending story but he’s getting been getting rocked.
I love Kershaw but it would make no sense to bring him back.
He’s still pitching at a high level, albeit one that needs management. Plus, he’s about to reach 3000 K’s, which will be not only a huge milestone, but one done entirely in Dodger blue. Bringing him back still makes sense.
You want to bring him back for a meaningless record?
You have to build on reason not emotion in this case.
Sign snell instead, get a guy with more velocity and play off bravado.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again the regular season is an exhibition; moreover, there’s playoff Studs like Eovaldi who has average regular season numbers then there’s playoff duds like Kershaw.
Some dudes just thrive in the big moments. THOSE are the dudes we need
You’re an idiot
but he’s getting been getting rocked.
========================
Not a LAD fan, but I am pretty sure you need his 2.46 ERA, notwithstanding one bad game.
Zone, Agreed, muted.
With that user name, I don’t want to hear another word.
Should be flagged too
@Zone no you’re the I.diot. Your team probably sucks that’s why you’ll take anything that resembles success.
@Joe 2.46 regular season numbers. Honestly let’s say we replace him with an average player 4.00 ERA that translates to 5-10 less wins a season. That still means NOTHING in the playoffs.
I believe Josh Sborz had a 4.00 regular season ERA and a killer Post season ERA, and went on to win the World Series.
That’s my point too often people romanize regular seasons numbers.
You sound like a brewer fan MC or some other soft Midwest team.
Shadow….What what does this have to do with the commenter who I muted that made the idiotic statement that LA doesn’t deserve two teams?
That is what Zone and I responded to.
What does That even mean?
Do you think that username is ok?
Ra__ist? I don’t even think I can list the commenter’s user name here without my post being taken down.
Are you supporting him?
Ohhh I thought you were attacking me for some what I thought reasonable points. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was that other dude. My bad
Ditto
It’s all good shadow, I’ll take the blame for not making it more clear who I was responding to. And no, fyi, I’m a certified Long Beach dirtbag….
@zone same here lol class of 2019
Nor should it be. Certain players need to stay on certain teams for their career.
Pretty cool that next season that he and Greinke will surpass 3k strikeouts.
Looks like the next member will be Gerrit Cole in @4yrs, provided he stays healthy. Darvish has a legit shot after and Sale if he can stay healthy and motivated remains a possibility….
I wonder if AJ Preller offered Aaron Judge deferred money but more of it, would he have taken it.
Lol Sale is damaged goods. He gets injured getting out of bed
He’ll come back and pitch for LA around the All Star break and pitch well before choking like a dog in the playoffs.
I hear the Rangers calling and the answer is ye$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ repeat World Series something those rich Dodgers have never done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No.
So insecure about it that you have to reply to every comment that says otherwise to reassure yourself you are right…
Let’s revisit this thread in 4 months.
Lmao it didn’t even take 4 months. Pshhhhhh
Is it a full moon or something? The werwolves are certainly out tonight.
Kershaw to Texas CY wants him bad and they are best friends.
There is as much doubt as to where Kershaw will play in 2024 as there was with Ohtani.
Retire, kershaw. No more!
Why?
Chokeshaw.
All these people complaining about 2.48 era in 24 starts. Dodgers fans sure are spoiled huh
These complaints aren’t coming from Dodger fans, they are coming from trolls. Dodger fans want Kershaw back this season, if only for a curtain call. And he will want to come back to LA if for no other reason than to wrap up his HoF career with the team where it all started and to erase the bad feeling of how the last one ended. I hope the surgery did the trick and this can happen, as every real baseball fan should.
It would be so gross to see him in a Rangers uni for his final season, with Scherzer and deGrom, just these old, broke-down mercenaries. I think any reasonable person would be disappointed to see him anyplace but LA.
What about fans who were happy when Griffey Jr broke his hand? What about the fans who were happy when Trout broke his hamet bone? What about the fans who were happy when Papelbon yelled at and hit Bryce? They’re no less fans, they just express it differently.
What about the Martian submarines? Nobody wants to talk about them!
What about the fans who were happy when Posey got run into?
And the giraffe people. How come we don’t hear more about them?
Kershaw is 56 SO from 3000 Strikeouts. The next one will be the 20th all-time.
That looks like the only significant milestone that seems reachable. Since Pitcher + Shoulder Surgery=???, how much do you offer a guy who doesn’t have a lot of “hidden heritage” value that will sell tickets to casual fans?
Factor in the fact that another baseball senior citizen free-agent, Zack Greinke, is 21 away.
I’m doing well too after procedures, but no one cares enough to write about it.
Pretty sure no one on here cares about your gender reassignment procedure…
Project much?
Sounds like a you problem.
I can’t see Kershaw signing with anyone other than the Dodgers at this point in his career.
100 million for 3 years for the GOAT Kershaw. Mostly deferred for the next 20 years.
Don’t count him out. He was left for dead by the fans a few years ago and he came back as good as ever. Kershaw with a repaired shoulder and several months of rest? I’m guessing they will sign him to a team friendly contract for a partial 2024 season and huge dollars for an additional two years
He is usually way too optimistic about his physical condition. I wouldn’t put a lot of stock in what he predicts, not because he’s lying but because he’s just wired to put the best spin on things (pun intended).
All their filthy lucre and all of their cynical contract games and their Boy Genius GM and what, other than all of their division titles, have they won? The fake, phony fraud 2020 (non) WS title. The Dodgers are a monument to hyper-financial mediocrity.
Get well Kersh…..It will be good seeing you on the mound again in Dodger blue.
So the relevant question is whether he’s planning on signing this offseason or waiting til mid season. Any inside info on that?
No special info, but I figure since he’s recovering from surgery neither he nor the Dodgers have any reason to talk any contract specifics until he’s closer to being able to pitch.
Kershaw needs to get those 3000 strikeouts and retire in Dodger blue. He’d go into the Hall of Fame, I think we can all agree he’s a first-ballot player, being with one team.
Kershaw in another uniform feels so wrong.
The oldest 35 year old to walk this Earth.
Check out Kershaw’s previous comments about Ohtani.
Gonna be awkward at 1st if he goes back to L.A.
Ohtani makes personnel decisions now. It’s in his contract.