Steve Webb
One-year deal kicks off the Dodgers’ 2022
LOS ANGELES — When Clayton Kershaw ended the 2021 season unable to contribute in any meaningful way for the last three months of the season, there was one thought above all that lingered in my head the whole time: “What a crummy way to end a career with a team that he’s given so much to.” It would have been beyond cruel for that rotten end to the season to be Dodger fans final memory of the three-time Cy Young winner. He deserves to go out a winner.
Now there’s a chance of that. According to multiple media sources, the All-Star lefty has come to an agreement on a one-year contract. Details are yet to be released, but one could guess it would be north of $20 million. He was not offered a qualifying offer at the end of the season, and even that was estimated at around 18.9 million, which was considerably off the per-year price of the contract that made him the highest paid pitcher in baseball a few years back.
If it turns out as reported, the deal is smart for both sides. Kershaw is a fierce competitor, and by taking a one-year deal, he’s betting on himself. Obviously, he thinks he can regain that elite stuff that was once so dominant in the National League. If he can, he’s bound to get a much more lucrative offer than he would get after his injury-plagued 2022.
And it’s a good deal for the Dodgers, too. They don’t get locked into a long-term deal with a pitcher whose glory days are pretty much behind him. If Kershaw returns to form, it’s bonus. If he doesn’t, no harm, no foul. A handshake and they’re off the hook for any further payments.
Last season, Kersh posted an uncharacteristic 3.55 earned-run average in 121 2/3 innings across 22 starts last season. In addition, his fastball’s velocity had diminished significantly. He spent the winter rehabilitating from a significant elbow injury that ended his 2021 season in September and almost put him into the scary territory of Tommy John surgery.
With the addition of Kershaw, we can feel a little more comfortable with the starting rotation. He will be joining Walker Buehler and Julio Urias at the top of the rotation. We still don’t know what’s going on with the Trevor Bauer situation, so it wouldn’t be prudent to pencil him in anywhere just yet. However, we do still have David Price, and we’ll see what we can get out of him. In addition, we added Andrew Heaney in the off-season, and he has a lot of untapped potential. Add to that, Tony Gonsolin and a rehabbing Dustin May. Finally, youngsters Andre Jackson and Mitch White both had their moments in 2021.
I’d still like another big arm, but after today, I feel a whole lot better about the state of play going into Spring Training.
