Clayton Kershaw decided to hang up his cleats after 18 years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and now he has to wait five years until he will be eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame as a likely unanimous first-ballot selection.
Kershaw said he’ll miss baseball, but he has also been looking forward to spending more time with his family, and it was presumed he wouldn’t be around the game for a bit. During his retirement press conference, the 37-year-old said he would have plenty of things to keep him occupied outside of baseball while referencing his five children.
While coaching or a front office role might not be on the horizon for Kershaw, he could perhaps be interested in starting a broadcast career, which would be a much smaller time commitment.
NBC and Peacock previously agreed to a new MLB media rights contract for 2026, which gives the broadcast company the rights to “Sunday Night Baseball,” as well as the Wild Card Series.
Now, NBC is looking to add Kershaw to their studio analyst group, and has him as one of their top targets, via Andrew Marchand of The Athletic:
Future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw is a top studio target for NBC/Peacock’s forthcoming Major League Baseball package, sources briefed on the talks told The Athletic.
It’s almost a guarantee Kershaw would be unwilling to work every Sunday Night Game, but he could end up appearing on the broadcast throughout the season if he’s hired:
Kershaw, who retired after the Dodgers’ latest World Series title, would likely work select events if a deal comes to fruition, the sources said.
NBCUniversal’s agreement with MLB secured a package that includes the return of Sunday Leadoff on Peacock, Sunday Night Baseball broadcasts and all four Wild Card Series of the postseason.
The partnership also brings a slate of regular-season and postseason games to NBC’s broadcast channel, new NBC Sports’ cable network (NBCSN) and Peacock’s streaming service.
Which games could Clayton Kershaw help broadcast for NBC
NBC’s broadcast schedule includes Opening Day from Dodger Stadium. While that would be the perfect opportunity for Kershaw to make his broadcast debut, he should be busy celebrating the World Series championship on the field with the banner raising and ring ceremonies.
But NBC does have multiple primetime matchups, including Labor Day, and they will broadcast some of the festivities during All-Star Week. NBC and Peacock also gained rights to the Futures Game, and a new event that will feature former players and celebrities.
If Kershaw joins the NBC team, those are likely the games he would join the studio for.
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