Dodgers Star Clayton Kershaw Announces Major Career Update

The Los Angeles Dodgers are playing host to the New York Mets for Game 1 of the NLCS on Monday.

Manager Dave Roberts told the media on Sunday that the team would use the series opener as a bullpen game — started by veteran reliever Ryan Brasier — while LA's top starters rest up.

Before the game, former Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, wrapping up his 17th MLB season, made an unexpected announcement on his future with the team.

Amid ongoing retirement speculation, the 36-year-old three-time Cy Young Award winner told the Fox Sports' pregame desk that he is planning to return for his 18th season in 2025.

"Obviously, I had some tough luck with my foot this year, but I want to make use of the surgery, "Kershaw said. "I don't want to have surgery and then shut it down. So, I'm going to come back next year and give it a go, and see how it goes."

After making at least 22 starts in each of the last three seasons, Kershaw was limited to just seven starts in 2024 after offseason shoulder surgery forced him to miss the first few months of this season. He finished with a 2-2 record and 4.50 ERA over 30.0 innings.

"Mentally, I feel great,” Kershaw added during his Fox Sports interview. “I had shoulder surgery last offseason, and my shoulder and elbow, everything, my arm, feels great."

In February, Kershaw signed a two-year, $10 million contract extension, which includes a player option for the 2025 season. According to Spotrac , the deal carries $5 million worth of incentives in 2025 based on his on-field production.

For his career, Kershaw has pitched a combined 2,937 innings (194.1 postseason) with a 2.50 regular season ERA, a 212-94 record, 15 shutouts and his lone World Series title in 2020 with the Dodgers.

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