Clayton Kershaw, the longest-tenured Los Angeles Dodger, will officially be back for an 18th season. The franchise icon has finalized a return he forecasted months ago by reporting to spring training on Tuesday. His official signing is pending a physical, league sources told The Athletic. Kershaw’s decision to rejoin the reigning World Series champions came with less uncertainty than recent offseasons. At the parade last November, the 36-year-old vowed to return despite turning down his $5 million player option for 2025. “I’ll be back, somehow,” Kershaw said then. “I don’t care. I’ll be back.” When he actually gets back on the mound at Dodger Stadium is a separate story.
Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms on a new one-year contract that will bring the three-time National League Cy Young Award winner back to the team for an 18th season, a source told ESPN's Alden Gonzalez on Tuesday. Kershaw was at the Dodgers' spring training site at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. The deal, which is pending a physical, is expected to become official by Wednesday and will guarantee Kershaw somewhere between $5 million and $10 million in 2025, a source told ESPN. If Kershaw's prior contract is any indication, the deal will also include a multitude of performance bonuses. Kershaw, who turns 37 in March, is expected back at some point around June, a source told ESPN.
The Dodgers have once again been on a spending frenzy in free agency. Now they’re re-upping with one of the cornerstones of their franchise. Los Angeles and left-hander Clayton Kershaw on Tuesday have agreed to a contract to bring him back for his 18th season with the club, according to multiple reports. It’s not clear what the full terms of the deal are yet. The contract has not yet been finalized, as he still needs to complete his physical, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday. Even though Kershaw, 36, is not officially on the team’s active roster, he was indeed an active participant at Dodgers workouts at their spring training facility at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona.
