By now, every Dodger – and baseball – fan on the planet is aware that soon-to-be (on March 17) 37 year-old future first-ballot Hall of Fame left-hander Clayton Kershaw has (thankfully) re-signed with the Dodgers – the only MLB team he has ever played for.
On Thursday, it was (very) widely reported that the extremely popular Dallas, TX native and Dodgers first-round draft pick in 2006 (seventh overall) out of Highland Park High School in Dallas agreed to a one-year / $7.5 million contract extension with the Dodgers for the 2025 season, the 18th of his career.
“I’m a Dodger,” Kershaw told reporters at Camelback Ranch on Thursday. “I’m so thankful for this organization. I don’t think I put enough merit on it at times, at what it means to be able to be in one organization for your entire career. You look at people throughout all of sports that have been able to do that, and it is special. It is. I don’t want to lose sight of that. Getting to be here for my whole career, however long that is, is definitely a goal. Thankful that I get to continue this journey. I want to be here. I’m thankful that I get to be here,” he added.
(SportsNet LA)
Kersh’s deal includes some very creative performance bonuses. He will receive $1 million each for 13 games, 14 games, 15 games, and 16 games, plus $2.5 million for 30 days on the active roster, and $1 million each for 60 days and 90 days on the active roster.
“I hope this is the last time I have to rehab, I’m kind of done with that. But at the same time, I don’t want that to be the reason that I stop playing,” Kershaw said of his two surgeries this past season following Thursday’s workout. “Hopefully I can walk out on my own terms, whenever that is. But it just didn’t feel like it was the right time, even though we won. Being on the shelf for that wasn’t the way that I had scripted it out. Still super thankful to be a part of it last year and get to see everything, but I want to be out there when it happens.”
Yes, Clayton, you are a Dodger … and we LOVE you for it!
Play Ball!
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