![\"Clayton](\"https:\/\/www.sbsun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/AP24207027340363.jpg?w=525\")
<\/p>\nLos Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes provided the latest update surrounding veteran southpaw Clayton Kershaw.<\/p>\n
Earlier this winter, Kershaw declined his $10 million player option with the Dodgers and opted for free agency.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Kershaw, 36, battled several injuries throughout the 2024 season, ultimately missing the postseason. Nonetheless, it\u2019s been widely speculated that he will return to the Dodgers for the 2025 season.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s continuing to heal and build up from the procedures he\u2019s had,\u201d Gomes said at the Winter Meetings. \u201cWe\u2019ll just stay in touch. <\/em><\/p>\n As I said, I hope and our expectation is that Clayton will be back next year, and whenever he\u2019s ready, if we\u2019re fortunate enough to bring him back, we\u2019ll plug him in.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The future Hall of Famer made it clear he wanted to retire as a Dodger at the end of the season, calling himself a \u201cDodger for life\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI just thought everyone kind of assumed and knew I was coming back. I didn\u2019t really think about it,\u201d Kershaw said during the playoffs after announcing he would play another season but not specifying for what team. \u201cI\u2019m going to be a Dodger.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s expected that Kershaw will sign a new contract with the Dodgers this offseason, possibly a two-year contract with a player option for the second season. The three-time Cy Young winner underwent two surgeries in November, one to address his toe and the other to repair the meniscus in his left knee.<\/p>\n Kershaw pitched in his last game of 2024 at Chase Field on Aug. 30. He made an untimely departure after one-plus inning due to a recurring toe injury.<\/p>\n Although he didn\u2019t compete in the postseason, Kershaw served as inspiration for Walker Buehler\u2019s ninth inning heroics.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, honestly, the first thing I said was \u2018What would 22 do?\u201d Buehler told Mookie Betts during an episode of the outfielder\u2019s On Base podcast. \u201cTwenty-two would be out there and he was hurt and all that s\u2013t so I guess I had to f\u2014ing do it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Kershaw remains a beloved figure in the Dodgers organization, and fans are eager to hear confirmation about his return to the team next season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes provided the latest update surrounding veteran southpaw Clayton Kershaw. Earlier this winter, Kershaw declined his $10 million player option with… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":20453,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n