Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw. David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Dodgers bring back three-time Cy Young winner

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 2/6/24

Clayton Kershaw is staying with the Dodgers, but the 10-time All-Star will wait to make his 2024 debut.

MLB insiders Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman broke the news of Kershaw's return, and they shared that he won't pitch until the second half of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery on Nov. 3. At the time of his surgery, Kershaw said he was "hopeful to return."

The Dodgers and Kershaw are in agreement @JonHeyman and I can report. The physical is on Thursday. https://t.co/lqvqtRwdS0
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) February 6, 2024

Kershaw had shoulder surgery on 11/3. Not expected to return (at earliest) until 2d half. 1st day Dodgers can put a player on the 60-man IL and not use a 40-man roster spot is Thursday, so could be waiting until then to finalize a deal. https://t.co/S2UoaPbnVI
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) February 6, 2024

Last season, Kershaw went 13-5 and had a 2.46 earned run average in 131.2 innings pitched. In his final outing, he only lasted a third of an inning as the Diamondbacks blasted him for six runs in Game 1 of the NLDS.

On Saturday, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said the team had been in contact with Kershaw when asked about bringing the three-time Cy Young winner back for a 17th season. His return is hardly a surprise, but it underscores the Dodgers' raised stakes in 2024.

They won the offseason by signing two-time AL MVP Shohei Ohtani and prized Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Los Angeles also added outfielders Manuel Margot and 2021 All-Star Teoscar Hernandez along with pitchers James Paxton and Tyler Glasnow.

The Dodgers have quality rotation depth, making Kershaw's absence for the first half of the season less of a concern. Per FanGraphs, pitching prospects Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan round out Los Angeles' projected five-man rotation to start the season that also includes Yamamoto, Glasnow and Paxton.

Walker Buehler also lurks as an in-season addition. He hasn't pitched since August 2022 but Gomes described a recent bullpen session as "outstanding."

Brandon Gomes on if Walker Buehler will be ready at the beginning of the season:

"We'll continue to have those conversations with Walker to see how he's going and see what's best for the team and Walker. His bullpen the other day was outstanding."
pic.twitter.com/b6lD8I4KHw
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) February 3, 2024

Per ESPN Bet, the Dodgers (+400) are the favorite to win the World Series. They kick off the regular season with a two-game series against the Padres in South Korea on Mar. 20 and 21. Pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Friday.

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