By the sound of it, baseball fans will get to enjoy the work of Clayton Kershaw for years to come. Speaking with reporters following his arrival to the Dodgers' Spring Training facility in Camelback Ranch in Arizona, the three-time Cy Young Award winner made clear he was far from done.
“I have no intention of hanging them up,” Kershaw said when asked about the possibility of retiring after the upcoming season, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. “I'm only 32. I have a few years left in the tank. I'm excited about this year.”
While the question of Kershaw's departure from the sport that has made him a star may seem premature, the topic has been the focus of conversation around the league as the pitcher enters the final year of his contract with Los Angeles. Originally signed to a three-year deal in 2018 worth approximately $93 million, the extension will expire in November, with the two sides admitting they have yet to engage in further negotiations.
Though Kershaw and the Dodgers are on good terms, especially following their victory in the World Series over the Tampa Bay Rays in October, Kershaw has spoken openly about his desire to stay close to his family as his children age.
Given that they usually reside in Texas, that, in turn, has prompted speculation that Kershaw could opt to leave the Dodgers for a team closer to home or choose to retire altogether.
With Kershaw's emphatic statement that he has no plans to walk away from the game in the short-term, Dodgers fans could soon endure a reality in which they see their franchise cornerstone in another uniform. In some ways, that may be more difficult than seeing Kershaw retire prematurely.
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