As the season nears its end, Clayton Kershaw (35, LA Dodgers) begins to worry about retirement. Kershaw himself doesn’t yet know whether he will pitch next year or not. 온라인카지노
According to the Orange County Register, a local newspaper in California, USA, on the 22nd (Korean time), Kershaw said, “I don’t know” if this year will be his last with the Dodgers. I really don’t know. “There are too many variables,” he answered. He continued, “I understand what people are asking, but it’s a little uncomfortable. I don’t want the attention to be focused on me. If there is an answer, I will tell you. “I don’t know yet,” he repeated.
Another local newspaper, ‘LA Times’, also said, ‘Next month could be Kershaw’s last month playing for the Dodgers. Kershaw, 35, said this offseason he could either become a free agent or choose to retire. Kershaw said, “I only think about winning the World Series. I will put all personal matters aside. “He always approaches everything with the mindset that it’s his last home game, his last playoffs,” he said. Regarding the possibility of a move to his hometown team, Texas, “emotions can change. “I worry about it sometimes, but I won’t think about it until the season is over,” he emphasized.
Kershaw renewed his one-year contract with the Dodgers for the second consecutive year after finishing the 2021 season. He re-signed with the Dodgers for an annual salary of $17 million in 2022 and an annual salary of $20 million this year. As he signed short-term contracts for one year, there were rumors of retirement or a transfer to his hometown team, the Texas Rangers, every year around this time, but the conclusion was always to stay in the Dodgers.
I started having the same concerns around the same time this year. There have been substantial calls from Texas over the past few years, but Kershaw has remained with the Dodgers. For Kershaw, who has become a one-club man for the Dodgers, the option of transferring is almost eliminated. Now, the only focus is whether or not his active duty will be extended. Last year around this time, he put to rest rumors of retirement by saying, “I was leaning towards adding at least one more year,” but this year is different.
He is still active this season with 22 games (121⅓ innings), 12 wins, 4 losses, an ERA of 2.52, and 127 strikeouts, but his retirement carries a little more weight. In an interview with USA Today Sports last July, Kershaw said, “If the Dodgers had won again last year, I might have retired. I have four children and a wife, so I have to consider many factors. “Last year, the decision was easy, but this year, honestly, I don’t know,” he said, expressing his enthusiasm for his retirement.
Above all, the current condition of his left shoulder is not normal. Kershaw, who took a month-long hiatus after being placed on the injured list due to shoulder pain in late June, saw his velocity drop noticeably after returning in the middle of last month. His concerns grew as his highest speed against the Miami Marlins on the 6th was only 89.9 miles (144.7 km), and it was revealed that he was still dealing with pain after returning from injury.
Even in the game against the Seattle Mariners on the 17th, after skipping one rotation and resting for 10 days, Kershaw’s velocity dropped further to a maximum of 89.5 mph (144.0 km). Since his return, he has been pitching well with 2 wins and an ERA of 2.42 in 6 games, but he is being managed to prevent recurrence of injury as he pitched 5 innings or less in all of them. It’s holding on with its dignity, but it’s a close call.
According to the Orange County Register, Kershaw admitted that the key is whether he can be in shape to handle a full season next season. After entering his 30s, Kershaw suffered from major and minor injuries every year, so he was very tired. He has no choice but to retire when his body can no longer hold out. If the Dodgers win the World Series, the possibility of his retirement increases.
Kershaw, who has been with the Dodgers for 16 years since his debut in 2008, has a total of 423 games (420 starts, 2,702⅓ innings), 209 wins, 91 losses, an ERA of 2.48, and 2,934 strikeouts. He achieved everything a player could, including winning the Cy Young Award three times, winning MVP once, leading the earned run average five times, being an All-Star ten times, and winning the World Series. A living legend who is certain to enter the Hall of Fame even if he retires immediately.
Kershaw will start in the home game against the San Francisco Giants on the 24th. This year’s Dodgers’ last home game of the regular season. This could possibly be Kershaw’s last appearance at Dodger Stadium during the regular season.