Home Care In Clayton, LA

Clayton Kershaw is back in Dodgers camp in spring training after spending the last few weeks at home in Texas with his family while rehabbing from shoulder surgery.

Kershaw on Friday spoke with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA about his rehab.

“This is my fourth week of throwing, and from week one to week four has been a world of difference for me. It’s starting to feel like I’m actually a normal pitcher, I can actually play catch,” Kershaw told Watson. “There’s still a ways to go, obviously. The shoulder, you can tell, is healed, it feels good.

“Now it’s just putting a lot of time and energy to building it back up and taking the right steps, not trying to go fast. It’s not the easiest thing in the world for me to do, but I know I’ve got some time, and I’m trying to take it.”

.@kirsten_watson caught up with Clayton Kershaw to discuss his throwing program and rehab process. pic.twitter.com/TLXVQBPCcI

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 2, 2024

Kershaw had surgery in November to repair the gleno-humeral ligaments and capsule in his left shoulder, and told reporters at the beginning of spring training that while he didn’t have an exact timetable for his return, he did mention “July-ish” and “August-ish.” Kershaw re-signed with the Dodgers on February 9 on a two-year incentive-laden contract that guarantees $10 million. The second year is a player option for 2025.

Dave Roberts told reporters in Arizona on Friday that Kershaw would be with the Dodgers for the final two weeks of camp in Arizona, then return home to Texas before rejoining the team for the domestic opening day on March 28 in Los Angeles.

Shohei Ohtani revealed this week that he is married but offered few in the way of details. Dylan Hernández of the Los Angeles Times explained how Japanese celebrity culture influenced how Ohtani made the news public:

The dynamic has resulted in Ohtani’s marriage being treated as if it’s a royal wedding, with Japanese television stations interrupting on-air programs to relay the news. There will be an appetite for information about Ohtani’s relationship, particularly about the identity of his wife, and the country’s notoriously aggressive tabloid magazines are certain to do everything in their power to satisfy that hunger.

Paul Lukas at Uni Watch has a look at the “Seoul Series” caps the Dodgers and Padres will wear during the first two games of the regular season on March 20-21 in South Korea.

Maury Brown at Forbes looked at the business side of the Dodgers spending spree this winter, including heavy deferrals in Ohtani’s contract.

“It’s not that they used brute force to control the market; it’s been bending the parameters of how players can be signed,” Brown wrote. “It was here, and elsewhere with the Dodgers’ signings that shows how the brand, the associated revenues, and being smart, allows the club to operate with at least some flexibility where others haven’t or can’t.”

.

Clayton Kershaw prefers not to think about it.

Nevertheless, the next month might be Kershaw’s last playing for the Dodgers, with the 35-year-old left-hander set for free agency — or, if he chooses, retirement — this coming offseason.

As such, Saturday night could be his final regular-season start at Dodger Stadium, if not his last time gracing the Chavez Ravine mound — though a home start in the playoffs next month seems increasingly likely.

Dodgers

Sept. 18, 2023

Either way, don’t expect Kershaw to dwell on the possibility, or the Dodgers to stage some grand send-off.

“It’s just all about trying to win this year,” Kershaw said this week. “All the personal stuff is kind of out the door.”

Yet, while staring out at the ballpark he has called home for the last decade and a half, even the famously unyielding veteran couldn’t block out every thought regarding his uncertain future.

“You always think about last homestand, last playoffs, all that,” he acknowledged. “But I came to peace with it a long time ago.”

Indeed, Kershaw has gone through this before.

Ahead of his first foray into free agency in 2021, his season came to an abrupt end during the final homestand, when he reaggravated an elbow injury that sidelined him for the playoffs.

That day he trudged off the mound with a ball clutched in his hand. He received a rousing ovation from fans he’d dazzled for years. And as he descended the dugout steps, it seemed his time with the Dodgers perhaps was reaching its end.

Turned out, some of Kershaw’s best days in L.A. were still ahead.

Last year he not only re-signed with the club on a one-year contract — Kershaw plans to sign only one-year deals the rest of his career, knowing retirement will loom as an annual possibility — but also resumed his place as a cornerstone for the pitching staff.

He started last season’s All-Star Game — a career first — at Dodger Stadium. He eclipsed the club’s career strikeout record. And if not for a couple of back injuries, he might have been in the conversation for a fourth Cy Young Award, after going 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA.

This season has followed a similar script. Kershaw re-signed in the winter. He has remained one of the Dodgers’ most productive pitchers, posting a 12-4 record and 2.52 ERA while earning another All-Star selection. He reached another milestone, collecting his 200th win on an April night when Chavez Ravine showered him with more appreciation.

“This place is special,” Kershaw said that night. “Anytime you get to do something at home, it’s pretty cool.”

However, as has routinely been the case in the latter half of his Hall of Fame-caliber career, Kershaw’s health derailed his season.

After missing all of July with a shoulder injury, Kershaw hasn’t looked the same since returning in early August.

His fastball is struggling to hit 90 mph. His command has been uncharacteristically off. Even his typically sure-fire mechanics have faltered, something that hadn’t happened during past bouts with injuries.

“He’s one of the most consistent pitchers that we’ve had, delivery-wise, since I’ve been here,” said Mark Prior, the team’s fourth-year pitching coach. “Even through all his back stuff the last couple years, he’s always maintained that.”

This time, however, Prior noted that Kershaw’s timing and sequencing “got messed up,” leading not only to the drop in velocity but also inconsistent command.

“With anybody, if you get hurt, or the arm speed changes a little bit, it’s just about trying to find the right balance, the right sequencing,” Prior added. “So, you make adjustments to adapt to what you can do.”

Kershaw — who still has managed a 2.42 ERA in six starts since returning from the injured list — predictably offered little insight into the process.

“I just want to get people out,” he said.

On the topic of his future, the 16-year veteran and proud father of four was more reflective.

While he conceded he occasionally ponders the decision awaiting him this offseason — the Dallas native also could entertain interest from his hometown Texas Rangers — he noted his feelings can “change all the time” and that “not until the season ends am I really gonna have thought about it.”

He said he tries to shy away from conversations about his future — and, by extension, his decorated Dodgers legacy — because “I don’t want the attention and all that. I think that’s the best way to go about it.”

Long ago, he declared, he accepted the reality of one day leaving the Dodgers, and eventually his pitching career, behind.

“If the last one was three years ago, so be it,” he said. “It’s been a great run regardless.”

His primary focus now, he repeatedly reiterated: “You just want to be a part of this year, winning the World Series. It’s either gonna be disappointing or it’s gonna be great. Then we’ll go into the offseason.”

Despite the recent decline in his stuff, Kershaw’s October role looks as important as ever.

He’s not only expected to be featured in the playoff rotation — albeit, with a potentially limited workload — but also could be in line to start Game 1, though manager Dave Roberts said pitching plans still are being finalized.

While the Dodgers hope Kershaw’s velocity will bounce back, they’ve been more encouraged by strides with his command, which seemed to improve near the end of a scoreless, four-inning outing in Seattle last week.

And, with another October on the horizon, it’s all leading up to a potential ride into the sunset, with Kershaw set to feature prominently in what could be the last playoff push with the only team he’s ever known.

“His body of work, as recent as this year, speaks to how much we trust and value him,” Roberts said. “For me, it’s just a matter of where he’s at physically. And if he feels good physically, we’re gonna run him out there.”

Another Dodgers season is over early, and one of the top storylines of the winter is what’s next for Clayton Kershaw.

His 16th season was interrupted in July by a shoulder injury that was officially listed as inflammation but was clearly much more. Kershaw missed six weeks, and upon his return saw his velocity and command wane. That culminated in the worst start of his career, when he allowed six runs and recorded one out in Game 1, setting the tone for a series in which the Dodgers never led.

Kershaw was planning to start Game 4 on Thursday had there been one. Dave Roberts said so Saturday in Los Angeles and reiterated every single day since that Kershaw was going to get the ball on four days rest for the first time since May. Though by not using Ryan Pepiot in Game 3, in which starter Lance Lynn only recorded eight outs, Roberts was at least hedging his bet.

Nothing was said, from what I’ve seen, regarding Pepiot’s non-usage from Roberts’ postgame session in the interview room at Chase Field. The overriding theme was one of disappointment, in another Dodgers season ending far earlier than expected.

There was a similar tone from Kershaw in the clubhouse, a frustration at his performance plus the always-jarring sudden end to a long season after preparing each day to compete.

"Obviously, it's just a disappointing end." Clayton Kershaw speaks on his emotions after tonight's loss. pic.twitter.com/t1DcYaufxA

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) October 12, 2023

“Obviously you’re focused on pitching and getting ready to face the guys again. The mental let down of knowing you’re done for the season,” Kershaw told reporters, per SportsNet LA. “You know, there will be a physical let down, too. Your body will let you know the season is over. It’s all stuff that’s no fun unless you win the last game.”

Kershaw will be a free agent the day after the World Series ends, his third straight offseason heading into free agency, content to make his plans on a year-to-year basis.

The usual choices are on the table for the left-hander who will turn 36 years old in March — return to the Dodgers, the only professional organization he’s ever known, sign with the Rangers to pitch for the team he grew up rooting for and with home games a short drive from his house, or retirement to spend more time with his family and finally let his body rest after 10 consecutive seasons with at least one injured list stint.

Last offseason’s decision came fairly quickly, only five days into free agency, though Kershaw’s one-year, $20-million contract was not finalized until December 5.

This year, though, Kershaw plans to take his time. From Andy McCullough at The Athletic:

A year ago, after the 111-win Dodgers crashed out early in the postseason, Kershaw opted to come back to Los Angeles after only a few days of discussion with his wife Ellen. This year, he told The Athletic on Wednesday, he will take longer to decide. He is considering undergoing an additional examination on his left shoulder, which he injured in late June. The shoulder condition, which Kershaw has declined to specify, led to reduced fastball velocity and diminished command in the final months of the season. He indicated he was unlikely to engage in serious contemplation about his future for several weeks.

Ever since he returned from the injured list in August, there was a vibe that just felt different. Kershaw after his first start back mentioned how he didn’t take for granted the opportunity to pitch, a sentiment he repeated over the last two months.

Because of the shoulder injury, I think retirement is likelier than it’s ever been for Kershaw.

After an eventful offseason where the Dodgers spent roughly $1.2 billion, the 2024 team is shaping up to be one of the best teams in all of baseball— on paper.

The most recent addition the team made— re-signing franchise icon Clayton Kershaw for his 17th season in Dodger blue— brings a jolt of excitement for fans who wish to see their former franchise face deliver a final sendoff in the twilight of his career.

The decision for Kershaw’s return was sparked mainly by the calamity that was his most recent start in Game 1 of the 2023 NLDS against the Arizona Diamondbacks, however returning for another season after receiving shoulder surgery was the toughest decision that Kershaw has made in his life.

Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register writes about Kershaw’s decision to return, noting how Kershaw doesn’t have a definitive timetable for his return to the mound.

“I really never made a big decision in my life,” said Kershaw who reported to Camelback Ranch and took his physical Thursday. “I got drafted by the Dodgers. I married the same girl from high school. I didn’t have many decisions to make along the way. This was really kind of the first offseason where I had some choices to make and it wasn’t easy... Honestly I think summer is about as good as I can do,” he said. “It’s probably not early summer. … I hate saying a timetable because if I go below it or beyond it, it’s not good. But I would say July-ish, August-ish. Somewhere in there. I don’t know.”

Kershaw has now had the chance to talk about superstar Shohei Ohtani being his new teammate.

David Brandt of the Associated Press writes about Kershaw’s return to the Dodgers, noting how the soon-to-be 36-year old felt about Ohtani handling the pressures that will come with playing for a perennial playoff caliber team.

“He seems like he’s got a great head on his shoulders and he can handle it,” Kershaw said. “Honestly, it should be good for our other guys. Mookie (Betts), Freddie (Freeman) are superstars in their own right, but the attention is going to be on Shohei 24/7.”

Alden Gonzalez of ESPN has more on Kershaw’s prognosis after undergoing shoulder surgery, noting how not having to be ready to go by opening day has been a relief for the southpaw.

“The freedom of not trying to get ready for a full season is kind of nice,” Kershaw said. “It’s just going to be a sprint when I get back. There’s a little bit of comfort in that, honestly. You don’t have to be ready April 1st. You can be ready whenever that is in the summer and kind of be ready to go.”

With his 10-year, $700 million contract, Shohei Ohtani will become the richest player in Major League Baseball history when it is all said and done, but where does he rank among some of the richest athletes not only in Los Angeles, but in all of sports?

Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times compares Ohtani’s earnings to that of fellow Los Angeles superstar LeBron James, as well as other top earning international athletes.

“Of course, Ohtani has agreed to defer $68 million of his salary each year. So, with $2 million in salary and $50 million in endorsements, where would Ohtani have ranked at $52 million? Among the 30 highest-paid athletes in the world.”

The Dodgers had an offseason for the ages, netting themselves the best overall player and starting pitcher on the market among other notable additions.

Tim Britton, Grant Brisbee, and Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic handed out offseason grades for all 30 teams, giving the Dodgers an A grade. The Dodgers were the only team in the National League to receive that grade, with the Baltimore Orioles being the only other team in baseball to receive an A grade.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — No major moves materialized for the Dodgers at this week’s general manager meetings.

But, over three days at the Omni Scottsdale Resort just outside of Phoenix, groundwork was laid for what is expected to be a busy offseason for the team.

As expected, the Dodgers will be in on the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes. They are looking for at least a couple starting pitching additions. And they’re taking stock of other ways to improve the team following a 100-win season but a sweep in the National League Division Series.

Coming out of the general manager meetings, here are five takeaways on where their offseason stands.

The Dodgers have needed starting pitching in past offseasons.

However, in Andrew Friedman’s tenure as president of baseball operations, they’ve never entered a winter coming off the kind of rotation struggles they endured this past year.

After leading the majors in rotation ERA each of the previous four years (and ranking top-five in the four seasons before that), the Dodgers slipped to 20th in that category with a 4.57 ERA in the regular season, then watched their starting pitching implode in a three-game sweep against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the playoffs.

Dodgers

Nov. 8, 2023

Because of that regression, Friedman acknowledged that the club needs to be more aggressive in its pitching pursuits this winter — signaling a potential shift in strategy after the Dodgers settled for lower-cost alternatives Tyler Anderson, Andrew Heaney and Noah Syndergaard the past couple offseasons.

“It’s reasonable to say that [our aggression level in the pitching market] would be more than what it has been when we come off years of top production,” Friedman said.

General manager Brandon Gomes echoed that sentiment.

“Right now, [we’re focused on] adding a starting pitcher or two,” he said, “and making sure that we are striking the balance of depth and keeping a high-end top tier of pitchers.”

There should be plenty of targets to pursue.

Blake Snell, Aaron Nola, Jordan Montgomery, Sonny Gray and Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto will headline the free agency class. Corbin Burnes, Tyler Glasnow and Dylan Cease are all established aces who could potentially be traded by their current teams.

Any of them would immediately upgrade a Dodgers rotation currently expected to include Walker Buehler (in his return from a second Tommy John surgery), Bobby Miller (who will be entering his first full-length MLB season) and a couple other younger arms such as Ryan Pepiot, Emmet Sheehan or Gavin Stone.

Such an addition would also represent the Dodgers’ biggest offseason pitching acquisition since their infamous signing of Trevor Bauer three years ago.

Of course, a move of that caliber wouldn’t come cheaply (Snell and Yamamoto could command more than $200 million, while any trade would require significant prospect capital in return). In recent years, the Dodgers have often bypassed pitchers requiring such lofty prices.

Then again, the team hasn’t encountered rotation woes as pronounced as this past year either, seemingly leaving them no choice but to be more aggressive in the pitching market this winter.

One pitcher who won’t be able to help the Dodgers right away in 2024: Clayton Kershaw, who intends to continue his Hall of Fame career next season but will miss much of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery last week.

Despite that newfound uncertainty, Friedman said the Dodgers are still hopeful that Kershaw will return to L.A. for a 17th season next year. The pitcher is also expected to consider a jump to his hometown Texas Rangers.

“We are very respectful of Clayton and [his wife] Ellen’s decision and are giving them the time and space to make the best decision for their family,” Friedman said. “But selfishly, we hope it’s for him to continue and finish his career in Dodger blue.”

Gomes reiterated that message, adding that the team wasn’t surprised by the 35-year-old’s decision to keep playing, even though it will require the first surgery of his career.

“He’s one of the greatest competitors I’ve ever seen,” Gomes said.

Despite missing all of this past year with a significant knee injury, Gavin Lux is in line to “take down a good amount” of playing time at shortstop next year, Gomes said Wednesday.

After struggling in his first couple years in the majors, then finding success at second base in 2022, Lux was supposed to succeed Trea Turner as the Dodgers’ starting shortstop last year — until he suffered a torn ACL and other ligament damage in his knee during a spring training game in February, knocking him out for the entire season.

As things stand now, the soon-to-be 26-year-old will assume a “similar” role next year, Gomes said, with the Dodgers remaining confident in Lux’s ability to handle the infield’s most demanding position. Gomes also noted that Miguel Rojas’ sure-handed glove gives the team a security blanket at the position as well.

“I think Gavin has done an amazing job of handling his rehab,” Gomes said. “We’ll bet on his makeup and desire to get back and perform at a very high level.”

The rest of the Dodgers infield largely looks set, including Max Muncy penciled in at third base (despite his defensive struggles there last year) and Mookie Betts expected to spend significant time at second base again.

That leaves the corner outfield spots as the Dodgers’ biggest area of need in the lineup, especially with Jason Heyward, Kiké Hernández and David Peralta all hitting free agency.

Dodgers

Oct. 30, 2023

Heyward and Hernández are the likeliest candidates to be re-signed. Other options loom in free agency, including former All-Star slugger Teoscar Hernández, whom the Dodgers have shown early interest in, The Times’ Jorge Castillo reported.

On Wednesday, Gomes threw a couple other names into the potential mix: Prospects Miguel Vargas and Michael Busch, both of whom are infielders by trade but have yet to stick at any one spot defensively.

“I think that it’s possible,” Gomes said of using Vargas and Busch in the outfield. “We’ll just see how the rest of it plays out and how they fit in. What they’ve done in the upper minors and their ability to move around the diamond is only beneficial.”

While Gomes said the Dodgers remain confident in Buehler’s ability to produce next season, the general manager said the team is “still talking about” whether the right-hander will be subject to an innings limit in his return to the mound.

“There’s a lot of different ways to go about making sure he’s in the best position possible for the stretch run,” Gomes said. “We’ll keep having conversations with him as we get closer to spring.”

The Dodgers are also optimistic of getting a bounce-back season from reliever Blake Treinen, after they picked up his $1-million club option last week. Treinen missed most of 2022 and all of last year with shoulder injuries, but is now a full-go and, the team hopes, will benefit from having a fully healthy offseason.

“The last time he did that,” Gomes said of Treinen, referring to the reliever’s standout 2021 season, “he came in really strong and healthy and then went out and had a monster year.”

One pitcher who remains a ways from returning: Dustin May, who has yet to begin a throwing program after undergoing a season-ending flexor tendon repair surgery in his right throwing elbow in July.