Can Clayton Kershaw and the LA Dodgers Sustain Their Partnership?
Clayton Kershaw, the renowned pitcher and star player of the LA Dodgers franchise, has been a dominant force in the Major League for over a decade. Since he was selected as the 7th overall pick in the first round of the 2006 draft, Kershaw has showcased his exceptional talent wearing the Dodgers uniform. He made his major league debut in 2008 and served as the team’s ace for an impressive 15 years. During his illustrious career, Kershaw made 425 appearances for the Dodgers, pitching 2,712⅔ innings and achieving an outstanding record of 210 wins, 92 losses, and an ERA of 2.48.
Furthermore, Kershaw’s list of accolades is equally impressive. He has been honored with the National League Cy Young Award, given to the best pitcher, on three occasions. In 2014, he even earned the prestigious National League MVP award with 21 wins, 3 losses, and a remarkable 1.77 ERA. Based on these exceptional performances, it is highly likely that Kershaw will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
However, as the saying goes, time catches up with even the most seasoned veterans, and Kershaw has not been immune to injuries. This year, he was sidelined by a shoulder injury, restricting his involvement in the game. Despite this setback, Kershaw managed to play 24 games, pitching 131⅔ innings and recording 13 wins, 5 losses, with an average ERA of 2.46.
Unfortunately, Kershaw’s postseason performance left much to be desired. His underwhelming display during the National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks saw him quickly exit the game after allowing 6 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk, and conceding 6 runs in just ⅓ of an inning. This ultimately contributed to the Dodgers’ defeat and led to criticism from local media, who deemed it one of Kershaw’s worst postseason outings. In total, his postseason statistics stand at 39 games, 194 ⅓ innings, 13 wins, 13 losses, and an average ERA of 4.49, with an ERA of 162 in this year’s division series.
The Uncertain Future of Clayton Kershaw
Kershaw’s contract with the Dodgers expired last winter, and his potential final appearance for the team resulted in his worst performance. As a result, there is growing speculation regarding whether he will continue his partnership with the Dodgers. MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, raised the question of whether Kershaw’s division series against the Arizona Diamondbacks marked his “last dance.” The article noted that Kershaw typically evaluates his future every year and makes honest decisions based on his circumstances. Although Kershaw has previously renewed his contract with the Dodgers after considering a return in the following year, this time the situation differs due to the severity of his left shoulder injury. Consequently, it remains uncertain if Kershaw will re-sign with the Dodgers.
When pressed about his future plans, Kershaw himself could not provide a definitive answer, simply stating, “I don’t know,” when asked how he would spend the upcoming winter.
The Dodgers’ Dilemma
For the Dodgers, there are limited options to consider apart from continuing their collaboration with Kershaw. The team’s pitching staff faces significant challenges, as Walker Buehler requires a second elbow ligament surgery (Tommy John surgery), while Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May are expected to miss the entire upcoming season due to their rehabilitation needs. Additionally, Julio Urias is currently facing disciplinary actions for domestic violence, further emphasizing the need for the Dodgers to bolster their pitching roster by recruiting free agents.
One potential candidate in the upcoming Stove League is Blake Snell, a strong contender for the Cy Young Award. Local experts anticipate Snell’s contract to exceed $200 million, making him an attractive proposition for any team seeking a top-class ace. If the Dodgers aspire to strengthen their starting lineup, they may very well enter the race to secure Snell’s services.
Despite the lingering risk of injuries, Kershaw continues to exhibit his exceptional skills and maintain a league-leading performance. The future of his partnership with the Dodgers remains uncertain, particularly considering the team’s current instability in terms of their starting lineup. It will undoubtedly be intriguing to witness how this scenario unfolds.
▲LA Dodgers Clayton Kershaw. ▲LA Dodgers Clayton Kershaw.
[스포티비뉴스=최민우 기자] Can Clayton Kershaw and the LA Dodgers continue to work together?
Kershaw is the star of the Dodgers franchise and a legendary pitcher representing the Major League. He wore the Dodgers uniform as the 7th overall pick in the first round in the 2006 draft, made his major league debut in 2008, and played as the Dodgers ace for 15 years until this year. For the Dodgers alone, he appeared in 425 games and pitched 2,712⅔ innings. And he left behind an incredibly excellent record of 210 wins, 92 losses, and an ERA of 2.48.
The history of the awards is also impressive. He has won the National League Cy Young Award, given to the best pitcher, three times. Additionally, in 2014, he recorded 21 wins, 3 losses, and a 1.77 ERA, earning the National League MVP award. Based on these performances, Kershaw is about to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
However, as the saying goes, there is no business ahead of time, and Kershaw, who became a veteran of battles, was suffering from injuries. He was also out of action this year due to a shoulder injury. Even after a break, he played 24 games, 131⅔ innings, with 13 wins, 5 losses, and an average ERA of 2.46.
They performed very poorly in the postseason. In the fall, Kershaw was unable to show his full performance. Kershaw, who started in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, was dismissed early after allowing 6 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk, and 6 runs in ⅓ innings. They were beaten by Arizona and ultimately became the cause of their defeat.
After Game 1 of the Division Series, the local media also criticized Kershaw, saying, “Kershaw performed poorly in the postseason, but today’s game was the worst.” Kershaw’s postseason records are 39 games, 194 ⅓ innings, 13 wins, 13 losses, and an average ERA of 4.49. The average ERA in this year’s division series hits 162.
▲ Clayton Kershaw, unable to escape the fall baseball jinx once again ▲ Clayton Kershaw ▲ Clayton Kershaw
Kershaw’s one-year contract with the Dodgers expired last winter. He had the worst performance in what could be his last appearance. Now, local media is also showing great interest in whether Kershaw and the Dodgers will continue to work together.
On the 13th (Korea time), MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, asked the question, “Was Kershaw’s ‘last dance’ the division series against Arizona?” and added, “Kershaw makes honest decisions about his future every year. come Kershaw, who was considering whether to return in 2021, renewed his contract with the Dodgers, and after finishing the season in good health, signed another one-year contract. But things are different this year. “This is because Kershaw’s left shoulder injury is serious,” he said, adding that he is not sure if Kershaw will re-sign with the Dodgers.
Kershaw also could not give a definite answer about his future. Asked how he would spend this winter, Kershaw replied, “I don’t know.”
▲ Clayton Kershaw ▲ Clayton Kershaw
The Dodgers also have no choice but to consider going with Kershaw. This is because the initial program will not improve significantly next year. Walker Buehler also needs a second elbow ligament surgery (Tommy John surgery), and Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May are also expected to miss the entire season as they need rehab. Julio Urias is being disciplined for domestic violence. Therefore, there is an urgent need to fortify the mound by recruiting outside free agents.
In this Stove League, there is Blake Snell, a strong candidate for the Cy Young Award. Local estimates predict Snell’s contract will be worth more than $200 million. If the Dodgers want an ace, they are expected to jump into the race to recruit Snell.
Despite the risk of injury, Kershaw still maintains his league-leading skills. Attention is given to whether the Dodgers, whose starting lineup is unstable, will continue to work with Kershaw.
▲ Clayton Kershaw
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