Clayton Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, chose to decline his $10 million player option with the Los Angeles Dodgers, opting for free agency instead.

The 36-year-old battled injuries for much of last season, ending with a 2-2 record and a 4.50 ERA across seven starts.

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes joined MLB Network Wednesday morning to clarify what is really going on with Kershaw and why he opted to decline.

“I think for Kersh it’s kind of see where he’s at into the offseason and continue to talk with his family and see how he comes on the other side of a couple things that he’s having done. Obviously, we want Kersh back.

He wants to be back but I think it’s very much like let’s see how these next few months play out to see what position he’s in.

“Our hope is to continue to have conversations and hopefully, Clayton is a Dodger for life.”

The legendary lefty also called himself a “Dodger for life” during the World Series Celebration at Dodger Stadium promising the fans that he will be back which is why his decision to opt out caught many by surprise.

“I don’t know (how that will play out),” he said during the festivities. “I’ll be back, somehow. I don’t care. I’ll be back.”

During the National League Championship Series, Kershaw joined the FOX pregame show and said he planned on pitching again in 2025.

“Mentally, I feel great. I had shoulder surgery last offseason, and my shoulder and elbow, everything, my arm, feels great,” he said. “Obviously, I had some tough luck with my foot this year.

But I want to make use of this surgery. I don’t want to have surgery and shut it down. So I’m gonna come back next year and give it a go and see how it goes.”

“I just thought everyone kind of assumed and knew I was coming back,” he added the following day. “I didn’t really think about it. I’m going to be a Dodger.”

From what Gomes and Kershaw have both said, the future of Kershaw in Los Angeles is certain — but for how long and for how much is to be determined.