Kershaw and Dodgers agree to one year deal

*Photo from the Los Angeles Times*

   An old but familiar face in the baseball landscape is sticking around for another year. The Los Angeles Dodgers and LHP Clayton Kershaw have agreed to a one year, $20 million deal, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman. The Dodgers have confirmed the news.

   This offseason was the second in a row that Kershaw had tested free agency, and now the second in a row that he has signed a one year deal with the Dodgers. He was eligible for a qualifying offer both this offseason and last, but the Dodgers did not extend him one, saying they did not want to pressure their longtime ace. Kershaw's deal also has a $5 million signing bonus.

   Last winter, he re-signed with the Dodgers on a $17 million deal, albeit with injury concerns. He had previously been shut down with a forearm injury that ended his season before the playoffs began, and seemingly had 3 options, play for the Dodgers or Texas Rangers, or choose retirement.

   He chose the Dodgers, and Kershaw was his usual dependable self. He made his 9th all star game in 2022, pitching to a 12-3 record with a 2.28 ERA, 2.57 FIP, and 0.94 WHIP. Kershaw threw 126 1/3 innings over 22 starts. He started one game in the playoffs, allowing 3 runs in 5 innings pitched.

   Kershaw has spent his entire 15 year career with the Dodgers, with a 2.48 ERA, 2.76 FIP, and 1.00 WHIP to show for it. He has 2,581 innings pitched, split between 398 starts and 3 relief appearances. He has a 4.22 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 38 career playoff games, 31 of which have been starts.

   As things currently stand, Kershaw's 2,807 career strikeouts are tops in Dodgers history, and his 197 wins are 3rd in team history, trailing only Don Drysdale and Don Sutton. He'll need 13 wins to pass Sutton for second overall, but needs 37 to pass Drysdale, which would require multiple more seasons in a Dodgers uniform.

   With the re-signing of Kershaw, he joins Dustin May, Julio Urias, and Tony Gonsolin as established starters heading into 2023, with Andrew Heaney and Tyler Anderson on the free agent market.