5:15pm: Kershaw spoke to reporters (including Ardaya) this afternoon about the injury and revealed that his attempts to return from the injury have worsened his toe’s condition. Kershaw added that offseason surgery to address the bone spurs is “in the conversation” but indicated that no decision has been made to this point on the topic. When addressing his future Kershaw indicated that he still enjoys pitching but did not want to discuss his plans in detail until after the season has come to a close.
3:33pm: The Dodgers are scheduled to begin Game 1 of the NLDS against the Padres later this evening, and among the pitchers notably absent from their roster for the series is veteran southpaw Clayton Kershaw. That’s not a surprise given that he was previously said to be targeting a return sometime in mid-October, but today manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register) that the Dodgers will actually be without Kershaw for the entire postseason. Plunkett adds that, according to Roberts, the bone spurs in Kershaw’s big toe have not improved since he went on the IL back in August, adding that things may actually have worsened since then.
The news officially brings to an end an injury-plagues season for Kershaw, who leaves the 2024 campaign behind with a 4.50 ERA (87 ERA+) and 3.87 FIP in 30 innings of work across seven starts while striking out just 18% of opponents. That’s by far the lowest strikeout rate of his career and the first time his ERA+ has been below average since his rookie campaign back in 2008, when his 98 ERA+ came in just a hair below average. While low walk and home run rates help to salvage some of Kershaw’s peripheral numbers, 2024 will nonetheless go down as the worst season of the veteran’s career to this point, though given the small sample its difficult to draw conclusion about his ability when healthy enough to take the mound.
Kershaw holds a $10MM player option for the 2025 season, though after occasionally contemplating retirement over the past few offseasons it’s not yet clear whether or not he’ll exercise that option or wait to decide on his future until later in the winter. Should he decide to continue his career into 2025, the future Hall of Famer will surely be welcomed back by the only team he’s ever known during an offseason where the club is sure to pursue rotation additions with only Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Gavin Stone locked into the 2025 starting rotation alongside Shohei Ohtani, whose return to the mound will likely necessitate moving to a six-man staff.
In the meantime, however, the Dodgers will need to piece together production from a rotation that offers little certainty outside of Yamamoto and deadline acquisition Jack Flaherty throughout the postseason. A struggling Walker Buehler (5.38 ERA in 16 starts) and rookie Landon Knack (3.65 ERA in 69 frames this year) stand as the club’s most likely starting options to fill out the rotation behind Yamamoto and Flaherty, who are set to start Games 1 and 2 respectively.
Aside from Kershaw, right-hander Joe Kelly was also left off the club’s NLDS roster. It was a difficult year for Kelly, who allowed a 4.78 ERA across 35 relief appearances while battling injuries. That includes a shoulder issue that bothered him throughout the final weeks of the season, and Roberts told reporters (including Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic) that the veteran right-hander won’t be available until at least the World Series after tweaking his shoulder during a simulated game this week. Without Kelly in the fold, the Dodgers figure to rookie Edgardo Henriquez to fill out their bullpen for the NLDS.
UncleJesse
Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
Have mercy 🙁
Joeypower
Just call it at this point.
Gmen777
He want strikeout number 3000 but I agree
Rsox
Problem is, can he throw enough innings to get 32 more K’s. Future Hall of Famer with or without it, so maybe it’s time to walk away
SupremeZeus
I’m guessing he will run it back one final time. We will see how ST goes.
JoeBrady
I’d bet on solid results for 2025. It’s more about how many innings at what salary. He has a $5M player option. He could likely get more on the open market, but maybe not more than $10M.
He’s already made $300M. I think he just pick up the option to make it easier all around.
Poolhalljunkies
His player option is for 10 million in 2025
JoeBrady
That’s what I get for counting the fingers on one hand instead of two hands.
And, you know, being too lazy to read the entire article.
houstondodgerblue
Honesty is refreshing! We all get carried away from time to time.
BaseballisLife
“Kershaw holds a $10MM player option for the 2025 season”
Rsox
He won’t leave the Dodgers. Maybe pull a late career Clemens and sit out the first half and return after the All-Star break and hope gives them a shot in the arm. Figure by then Glasnow should be hurt, Ohtani has to work a 6 man rotation (assuming he’s healthy) and Gonsolin and May should be out so the timing might be perfect
Edp007
I’m sure he’d like to be in rotation with Sho for a final season
belkiolle
Calling Tyler Glasnow “locked in” to a rotation is wish casting at best.
Nevrfolow
Only 32ks from 3000. He was on track to get it September of last year before losing a month and a half to injury.
letitbelowenstein
It isn’t like he “needs” the 3,000. He’s a lock for 1st ballot HOF. He should leave on a high note. Not leave with the potential of a 1-6, 6.29 line.
Rsox
Fred McGriff finished 7 Home Runs shy of 500. It doesn’t matter how willing the mind is if the body can’t follow
KingZeke8
It’s a dangerous game to play but if I were Kershaw, I’d take 2025 off. Just stay at home with the family, get healthy, get rested and then see if 2026 piques your interest. If not, time to hang’em up.
PronounsRUS
I stopped reading after you called baseball a dangerous game.
KingZeke8
I didn’t call baseball a dangerous game, I was saying taking a year off is a dangerous game
Neon Cop
Probably the best news LA could’ve hoped for. Guy is complete trash when it matters most.
Mojo37
you’d be the expert in trash
Neon Cop
Comment makes no sense — cry harder.
Mojo37
too many syllables for you? all you do is talk trash. is there anything positive in your life?
Neon Cop
No clue who you are. Guess we found Kerfraud’s burner…
Mojo37
I’ve seen your act on multiple threads for various teams. Always negative. Always an a-hole. Get a life.
Neon Cop
Felon Ohtani as your profile pic. Checks out. Regardless, keep crying.
Mojo37
grow up
BaseballisLife
4.49 ERA is not trash, just mediocre.
This one belongs to the Reds
Clayton decided to defer.
DarrenDreifortsContract
He’s my favorite player of all time and the greatest pitcher of all time but it might be time to hang it up. Unless he goes the John Smoltz route and goes to the bullpen. I just don’t see how he’s ever going to be healthy again.
johnsilver
No, think he’s gonna need another 25-30w’s to get into the HOF. 3 Cy’s is sweet, then the just over 200w’s, coupled with so-so post season might make him an old timers addition. I’d like to see him try to go another cpl years if he’s got anything left myself.
getrealgone2
Greatest of all time? Um…no
PronounsRUS
Hall of shame this one. Never cared when it mattered. Only played for personal gain and faked all kinds of injuries. Chokeshaw will not be missed
Bart Harley Jarvis
Zoinks.
Astros Hot Takes
i miss suncloud
DecaturRagun
Kershaw rode his curveball for years, when he learned the Roger Beshens Football Slider and didn’t give Roger credit that was his mistake.
Trevor Bauers mistake was at the 2018 All Star game telling leiter and Pedro that’He’ taught himself a slider. LOL When it was Roger Beshens Football Slider. Bauer’s last game June 28 Roger Beshens mothers birthday. KARMA.
Hubert
Oh dear God, here we go…
kellin
Seeing how bad Kershaw is in the post season this is probably a blessing in disguise for the Dodgers.
top jimmy
“the club is sure to pursue rotation additions with only Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Gavin Stone locked into the 2025 starting rotation alongside Shohei Ohtani, whose return to the mound will likely necessitate moving to a six-man staff.”
The Dodgers also have Gonsolin, May, and Sheehan coming back next year. They have plenty of rotation options.
JoeBrady
There is an entire wing of the Tommy John hospital dedicated to those 7 names. If I were a betting man, under in the first half and over in the second half. Even if you get 5 of the 7 back in April, they might need some time to knock off the rust.
LA needs Kershaw to start the season.
greg1
Hopefully we have not seen the last of Kershaw, love watching this guy pitch.
Smacky
All that drinking gave him the gout.