Three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw agrees to return to Dodgers: reports

Clayton Kershaw has spent his entire storied career with the Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw is widely considered one of the greatest Major League Baseball players of this era. 

But, after 16 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers there was some discussion on whether Kershaw would pitch somewhere other than Los Angeles in 2024 or if the ten-time All-Star would walk away from the game completely.

On Tuesday, Kershaw appeared to ease some of the concerns surrounding his plans for the immediate future. The 35-year-old left-hander agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Dodgers, MLB Network Insider Joel Sherman and others reported. The New York Post first reported the deal.

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Clayton Kershaw walks to the dugout

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw heads back to the dugout after the final out of the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Minneapolis. Kershaw threw seven perfect innings before being relieved as the Dodgers won 7-0.  (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

The terms of the deal were not made public. The southpaw is expected to undergo a physical at the team's spring training facility in Arizona later this week.

But, Kershaw is not expected to be ready to pitch once the regular season begins in April as he continues to recover from offseason shoulder surgery.

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The Dodgers bolstered their pitching rotation this season by adding Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Walker Buehler will likely take the mound at some point in the season once he fully recovers from his second Tommy John surgery.

Clayton Kershaw throws pitch

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw works against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in Denver.  (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles also made arguably the biggest offseason splash by landing superstar pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani. But, the two-way star underwent elbow surgery that will keep him off the pitching mound in 2024.

Kershaw, the 2014 NL MVP, has overcome a series of injuries throughout his prolific career. But, the injuries have taken a toll in recent years, resulting in a decline in Kershaw's velocity. Nevertheless, the star pitcher has remained an exceedingly effective pitcher when he takes the mound.

Clayton Kershaw pitches against the Cardinals

Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on from the mound during the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on April 29, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.  (Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

Kershaw struggled in his one postseason appearance for the Dodgers in 2023. He was charged with six runs and only managed to record one out in the National League Division Series game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Kershaw has started in 32 postseason games, with a 13-13 record. He will likely surpass the 3,000 career strikeout mark at some point in the 2024 season as he currently has recorded 2,944 strikeouts.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

Authored by Chantz Martin via FoxNews February 6th 2024