Signing Clayton Kershaw: Pros, cons, best fits
Clayton Kershaw will be arguably the best pitcher available when Major League Baseball's lockout ends.
Let's break down some of the pros and cons of signing the left-handed ace, and some of his potential suitors.
Pros
He's Clayton freaking Kershaw. The three-time Cy Young winner and 2014 National League MVP was the most dominant pitcher of the 2010s, accruing a major-league best 59.3 fWAR with a 2.31 ERA over 1,966 innings (293 starts). His personal accolades include eight All-Star nods, five ERA titles, and three strikeout crowns.
Kershaw brings 14 years of experience to any rotation he joins. He's played in the playoffs in 11 seasons, logging 189 innings en route to three trips to the World Series and a 2020 championship. The 33-year-old can still be an effective starter, even though he hasn't logged more than 178 1/3 innings per year since 2015. Over that period, he owns a 22.4 fWAR with a 3.04 FIP while averaging around 140 innings per season, which includes the pandemic-shortened campaign.
Cons
Kershaw is still very good when he's on the mound. However, he's having a hard time staying on it. He only pitched in 121 2/3 innings in 2021 due to multiple injuries, resulting in his worst season since his rookie year in 2008. With the left-hander entering his age-34 campaign, the likelihood of him missing time will only increase.
He's breaking down because there's an insane amount of mileage on his arm. Kershaw has amassed 2,454 2/3 innings during his time in the majors, which includes five 200-plus-inning seasons, and that doesn't even include postseason numbers. The wear and tear from a stellar career is simply catching up to the future Hall of Famer.
Potential suitors
Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers have to be considered favorites to land Kershaw. The franchise icon has done everything imaginable with the team and it would be a disservice to allow him to don another jersey before he retires. Los Angeles also needs help with its rotation after Max Scherzer left in free agency and with uncertainty surrounding Trevor Bauer.
Los Angeles Angels: Could Kershaw be convinced to head down to Orange County to end his career with another California team? The Angels need pitching help and reportedly took a serious run at Scherzer. A trio of Shohei Ohtani, Noah Syndergaard, and Kershaw would be must-watch TV.
Texas Rangers: Manager Chris Woodward contacted Kershaw, who's from Dallas, during the offseason. The Rangers need a No. 1 with newcomer Jon Gray projected to be their Opening Day starter. Texas clearly has money to spend after dropping a combined $500 million on Marcus Semien and Corey Seager.