Cody Snavely
*The reported deal is 1-year with a player option for 2025 according to Andy McCullough from the Athletic*
The 2024 MLB season is fast approaching for the boys in blue. Pitchers and catchers report to Camelback Ranch this Friday, February 9th. However, the Dodgers have been busy in the pitching department.
Yesterday, the Dodgers reportedly re-signed Ryan Brasier to a 2-year $9 million deal while trading away Caleb Ferguson to the Yankees.
However, the Dodgers are not done, as they have re-signed future Hall of Famer and longtime ace Clayton Kershaw.
Kershaw timetable?
Clayton Kershaw will be entering his 17th season; however, it is the first time in his career that he will miss extensive time on the IL due to shoulder surgery over the offseason.
The longtime MLB vet is expected to be out until “mid-summer,” according to an Instagram post from Kershaw himself shortly after the Dodgers were eliminated in the NLDS by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In the Instagram post, Kershaw announced that he underwent left shoulder surgery to repair glenohumeral ligaments. The surgery is similar to Brandon Woodruff‘s, another free-agent starting pitcher expected to miss most, if not all, of 2024.
Here on DodgersBeat and the Bleed Los Podcast, I have long speculated that there is a massive possibility that Kershaw will not be ready come July or August and could miss the entire season.
While the agreement’s details have not yet been reported, I would not be surprised if the Dodgers worked a 2-year deal with Kershaw, allowing him to rehab most of 2024. However, all indications point to another 1-year commitment.
Did a Kershaw deal make sense?
The Dodgers starting rotation was the most significant question mark heading into the 2023-2024 MLB offseason for the Dodgers.
With the subtractions of Julio Urias, Lance Lynn, and Kershaw’s future in doubt, the Dodgers aimed to revamp the starting five for the upcoming season.
The Dodgers did that and more as they acquired Tyler Glasnow, James Paxton, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They are expected to get a considerable boost, with Walker Buehler returning to the fold sometime after Opening Day.
For the first time in years, it seemed that the Dodgers did not “need” Kershaw back, and adding him now was not a necessity.
However, the legend of Clayton Kershaw in Dodger Blue will live on for at least one more year, and the manager, players, and front office all seemed to be on board for a Kershaw reunion as they were asked extensively during DodgerFest.
Currently, the Dodgers rotation is as follows:
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto
- Tyler Glasnow
- Bobby Miller
- James Paxton
- Emmet Sheehan
- Walker Buehler (Delayed Start)
Kershaw, who is potentially due back in August if all things go well, can slot in as the fourth or fifth starter, barring any major injuries to the already-mentioned arms.
40-man roster & 60-day IL mess
Like every signing or trade the Dodgers have made this offseason, they must again juggle their way out of a full 40-man roster.
Even though the Dodgers traded away Caleb Ferguson, they received LHP Matt Gage, who was already on the Yankees’ 40-man list and thus was added to the Dodgers.
The Dodgers can also not officially announce the Ryan Brasier deal until moves are made on the 40-man roster. However, as mentioned previously, the 60-day IL opens on February 8th.
Once Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, and Nick Frasso are placed on the 60-day IL, the Dodgers will have three spots open. However, before transferring Kershaw to the 60-day IL, the Dodgers still have to officially add him to the 40-man roster.
Kershaw is expected to take his Physical this week in Arizona when the team reports for Spring Training, and the Ryan Brasier deal should be announced later this week, too.
