The Los Angeles Dodgers are putting the finishing touches on another monster offseason.
While their latest move may not result in as many wins as the additions of two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani, starting pitchers Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto and power-hitting outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, Tuesday's news on franchise icon Clayton Kershaw is sure to make Dodgers fans happy.
Kershaw had shoulder surgery on 11/3. Not expected to return (at earliest) until 2d half. 1st day Dodgers can put a player on the 60-man IL and not use a 40-man roster spot is Thursday, so could be waiting until then to finalize a deal. https://t.co/S2UoaPbnVI
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) February 6, 2024
Because Dodgers/Padres open season 3/20-21 in S.Korea, they are beginning spring training earlier, so can put players on 60-day IL earlier: Dodgers 2/8, Padres 2/11 and all 28 other clubs 2/14. https://t.co/A3QsD3vETy
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) February 6, 2024
The Dodgers and Kershaw are in agreement @JonHeyman and I can report. The physical is on Thursday. https://t.co/lqvqtRwdS0
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) February 6, 2024
Because Kershaw's shoulder surgery happened so early in the offseason, his injury could end up being a blessing in disguise for Los Angeles.
Though the southpaw is entering his age-36 season and has thousands of innings on his arm, asking the future Hall of Famer for closer to 100 innings is a lot more reasonable than 200 frames. With the team's roster flexibility and already-loaded group, the Dodgers can hope that they're in a good position for another pennant run by the time Kershaw returns.
Dodgers have had to manage a deep/full 40-man roster. Their trades with the NYY of Victor Gonzalez and Caleb Ferguson were to open 40-man spots for 1st Ohtani, then Brasier. With Kershaw physical on Thursday, he can (if passes) go right on 60-day IL and no 40-man spot needed https://t.co/Rl9v6GkETi
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) February 6, 2024
The Dodgers will have to clear 40-man spots in the coming days for Kershaw and Ryan Braiser. They can start adding guys to the 60-day IL on Thursday, so expect the days to follow that to be followed by such moves for two of D. May, T. Gonsolin or N. Frasso.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) February 6, 2024
Assuming everything stays on course (which hardly ever happens), the Dodgers' second-half rotation options include ...
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) February 6, 2024
Yamamoto
Glasnow
Buehler
Kershaw
Miller
Paxton
May
This is the second straight winter where the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner's future not only in Los Angeles but on a baseball diamond, was unknown.
Kershaw and the Dodgers signed a one-year, $20M in December 2022, a deal that included a $5M signing bonus.
The 10-time All-Star opened the regular season in the middle of the Los Angeles starting rotation but later missed all of July with his shoulder issue. Last season was the eighth straight year in which Kershaw had a stint on the injured list.
The former NL MVP was solid when healthy, registering a 13-5 record with a 2.46 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 24 starts covering 131 2/3 innings.
Kershaw faltered in the postseason yet again, however, turning in the worst outing of his career in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Kershaw finished his start allowing six runs (all earned), including a home run, while walking one and recording no strikeouts. He got only one out and was removed from his start in the top of the first.
For much of the winter, it looked like that was perhaps going to be Kershaw's final MLB game, but now it looks like he may get a chance for redemption in 2024.
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