MLB Rumors: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers Agree to New Contract for 2024 Season

It's unclear when Clayton Kershaw will be able to pitch in 2024, but he will be doing it for the Los Angeles Dodgers if it happens.

ESPN's Alden González reported the three-time NL Cy Young winner has agreed to a deal that will keep him with the Dodgers for a 17th season. According to The Athletic's Andy McCullough, Kershaw's new contract includes a player option for 2025 that could ultimately allow him to pitch alongside Shohei Ohtani.

Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of the New York Post first reported there was a "growing belief" Kershaw would sign with the Dodgers.

Kershaw announced on Nov. 3 that he underwent shoulder surgery and he's "hopeful to return to play at some point in the summer."

While there hasn't been a specific timeline given for Kershaw to pitch, Sherman noted it won't happen until the second half of the season at the earliest.

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has said throughout the offseason the team would like to keep Kershaw if it's what he and his family want.

"We are very respectful of Clayton and Ellen's decision and giving them the time and space to make the best decision for their family," Friedman told reporters in November at the general manager meetings. "But selfishly, we hope it's to continue and finish his career in Dodger blue."

Kershaw has been playing on one-year deals each of the past two seasons. He has spent his entire career with the Dodgers organization since being selected with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2006 MLB draft. The only other team that has ever been mentioned as a potential threat to sign him away from the Dodgers is the Texas Rangers.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported in December the Rangers were "very much" in play for Kershaw. The reigning World Series champs have a huge hole in their rotation right now with Jordan Montgomery still a free agent.

Montgomery reportedly prefers to remain with Texas, but there are no guarantees until a deal is signed. He's been connected to the New York Yankees, though it's unclear how much more money they will spend after trading for Juan Soto and signing Marcus Stroman.

Even though the Rangers just won the World Series, it's hard not to see the Dodgers as Kershaw's best chance to get a title in 2024. They added Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Teoscar Hernández to a loaded roster that won 100 games last season.

Despite dealing with injuries that limited him to 24 starts in 2023, Kershaw was still very effective with a 2.46 ERA and 137 strikeouts in 131.2 innings. He has posted a sub-3.00 ERA in three of the past four seasons.