Kershaw treasures chance to spend whole career with Dodgers

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Even though Clayton Kershaw remained a free agent until the beginning of spring, there was little doubt as to where he would sign.

That sentiment should hold for the foreseeable future. After his new one-year, $7.5 million contract with incentives was made official on Thursday afternoon, the 36-year-old left-hander re-expressed his desire to be a Dodger for life.

"I don't think I put enough merit on it at times, what it means to be able to be in one organization for your entire career," Kershaw said. "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."

Kershaw's 18th season with the Dodgers will tie Zack Wheat and Bill Russell for the most in franchise history. He and Russell are the only ones to play 18-plus seasons with the Dodgers since they moved to L.A. in 1958.

Notably, Kershaw will become the only active Major Leaguer with at least 18 years of service with the same team.

It will be some time until Kershaw can take the mound for the Dodgers again, because of surgery on his left toe and left knee in the offseason. He expects to open the season on the 60-day injured list, which would make him ineligible to return until the end of May. Around that time, he thinks he'll be "getting close to being back."

But even when Kershaw isn't on the active roster, his presence makes a difference for the Dodgers. It made a mark on several players that he reported to Spring Training before officially re-signing for 2025.

"Even Clayton being around has been really uplifting and positive, I think, for him and for the players," manager Dave Roberts said. "Knowing he's going to come back, I think we're all excited."

Said veteran infielder Miguel Rojas: "He shows what this organization is all about. It's about being together from the beginning and … being unselfish in all capacities, and that's what Kersh does, you know?"

Recovery from the foot surgery was not easy for Kershaw, who spent four weeks on crutches and four in a boot before he was able to resume walking on his own. A few weeks before Spring Training began, he felt that he was ready to turn a corner and has progressed to running since arriving at Camelback Ranch.

As for the arm, Kershaw has felt good playing long toss -- "It hasn't felt this way in a while," he said -- and thinks he can return to throwing bullpen sessions next month.

At this point in his career, Kershaw has nothing left to prove. He's won three Cy Young Awards and one MVP Award, and he's been selected to 10 All-Star teams. With 212 wins and a real chance to notch 3,000 strikeouts, he's all but certainly bound for Cooperstown when his playing days are behind him.

With his age-37 season ahead of him, Kershaw admitted that retirement has crossed his mind -- but he also doesn't want to let injuries dictate the timeline of his career. The two-time World Series champion could have gone out on a high when the Dodgers won their first title in a full season since 1988, but Kershaw had to take a back seat during the postseason run after a bone spur in his left toe ended his year after just seven starts.

The Dodgers have not been shy about their ambitions to repeat as champions, and Kershaw wants to play an active role in their title defense. That's one of many motivating factors as the franchise legend continues his storied career in the big leagues.

"I hope this is the last time I have to rehab. I'm kind of done with that," Kershaw said. "But at the same time, I don't want that to be the reason that I stop playing. … Hopefully I can walk out on my own terms, whenever that is, but it just didn't feel like it was the right time."