Clayton Kershaw has reportedly made his decision on where he will play the 2024 season, and based on his public statements in 2023, he is somewhat surprisingly returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
To say that Kershaw’s performance at the end of the 2023 season was disappointing would be an understatement. The 35-year-old future Hall of Famer started game one of the National League Division Series and was heavily criticized for his poor performance. However, it was later revealed that he had undergone major shoulder surgery, which explained his struggles.
While Kershaw expressed hope to return to play during the summer of 2024, it remains uncertain how much of the season he will miss. Nevertheless, the Dodgers, with their significant investments in other players, have the resources to wait for his return.
So why is Kershaw’s decision surprising, considering he has spent his entire career in Los Angeles and the Dodgers have the financial means to make a deal work? It all comes down to what happened during the 2023 season.
The Dodgers made headlines in June 2023 when they honored a controversial group called The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. As a devout Christian, Kershaw strongly disagreed with this decision and publicly criticized his own organization. This led to speculation that he might leave the Dodgers and join the Texas Rangers, his hometown team. However, today’s news puts an end to that possibility.
While we may never know the exact reasons behind Kershaw’s decision, it is evident that he did not hold the organization’s promotion against the baseball operations department. He also likely did not want his last appearance in a Dodgers uniform to be tarnished by his poor performance in the NLDS. Additionally, the team’s recent acquisitions and the opportunity to play alongside talented teammates may have influenced his choice.
The Dodgers are now favored to return to the World Series in 2024, and Kershaw’s return further increases their chances of winning. For Kershaw himself, it solidifies the likelihood of him playing his entire career with one team and gives him a shot at winning another championship. The only losers in this situation are the drag nuns, who have already faded into irrelevance.