A multitude of veteran starting pitchers will be out of a contract in the upcoming free agency period, including longtime Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw.

The one-time National League MVP Award winner is just coming off of a season marred by injuries. For one, he missed the Dodgers' postseason run due to a left forearm injury suffered during his October home start against the Milwaukee Brewers.

There has been much speculation as of late over whether Kershaw has pitched in his final game with the Dodgers. Teams such as the Texas Rangers have been in the rumor mill over possibly being interested in signing him to a multiyear deal come the start of free agency.

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is not ruling out the possibility of bringing back Kershaw, but as he hinted during a press conference on Wednesday, he is taking a different approach with the left-hander's upcoming free agency period.

“Obviously what he’s meant to this organization, to this city, I think it’s all about what makes more sense for him and Ellen and their family,” Friedman said. “I think taking off my president of baseball operations hat, there’s something nostalgic and great about Kershaw playing with one team and being able to win another championship and having a parade.”

Kershaw has not yet provided for a final declaration on whether he is open to returning to Los Angeles on either a short-term or long-term deal. In September, the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner did note that he has “no idea what's going to happen” in free agency.

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As Friedman further hinted, the ball is in Kershaw's court on whether he aspires to prolong his run with the Dodgers.

“That being said, he’s put himself in this position to go out and do whatever makes the most sense for his family, and we will support that,” Friedman said.

Kershaw's future with the Dodgers is not the only free agency dilemma that Friedman will have to tackle in the coming months, especially as the likes of Corey Seager and Max Scherzer will also be out of a contract.

It is expected to be quite a chaotic offseason for the team.