Los Angeles Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw is returning to the defending World Series champions for the 2025 season.
Kershaw was with the team in Arizona for the first day of Spring Training and was in agreement on a new contract that was pending the completion of a physical, according to ESPN’s Alden González.
Kershaw, 36, spent the winter on the free agent market unattached to any team, but it was widely expected he would return to the Dodgers once roster space opened up for the three-time National League Cy Young Award winner.
Details of the contract were not immediately disclosed, but it is expected to be a one-year deal for Kershaw to return for his 18th season as a member of the Dodgers — the only team he’s ever suited up for.
Kershaw is recovering from offseason knee and toe surgeries that derailed the 2024 season and limited him to just seven uninspiring outings. When he returns to full health, he will be added to the most expensive pitching staff in baseball that is headlined by reigning NL MVP Shohei Ohtani, postseason hero Yoshinobu Yamamoto and newly signed Blake Snell, as well as rookie Japanese flamethrower Roki Sasaki.
Kershaw is MLB’s active leader in earned run average and third among active pitchers in strikeouts and wins. He is 21 wins shy of becoming the Dodgers all-time leader in wins.
It’s the second highly anticipated return by a Dodgers fan favorite player announced this week.
Over the weekend, super-utility man Kiké Hernández agreed to return to the club for the 2025 season. Hernández, a clubhouse character and one of manager Dave Roberts’ most trusted postseason performers, will look to bring veteran leadership and playoff grit to the Dodgers in their pursuit of a World Series repeat.
