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Dodgers close to re-signing Clayton Kershaw, who’s on hand at Camelback Ranch
His name isn’t officially on the Dodgers’ roster yet.
But future Hall of Fame pitcher Clayton Kershaw was in attendance for the team’s first workout of spring training on Tuesday at Camelback Ranch in Arizona.
As had been expected all offseason, Kershaw is finally in the process of completing a new contract with the Dodgers. The 36-year-old still has to complete a physical, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly. His deal could be finalized as soon as Wednesday.
Kershaw is returning to the Dodgers for the 18th season of his illustrious career — having decided before the end of last year he wouldn’t retire, or test free agency with any other club.
Kershaw managed only seven starts last year, going 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA. He missed the first half of the season recovering from shoulder surgery. Then, a late-season toe injury sidelined him for all of September and October. In November, Kershaw had surgery on both his toe and knee.
Because of that procedure, Kershaw likely won’t be ready to pitch early in the season. However, the three-time Cy Young Award winner has begun a throwing program, and played long toss at Tuesday alongside other Dodgers pitchers.
Like Kershaw, veteran utilityman Kiké Hernández was also in camp Tuesday, even though his re-signing with the team has also not yet been finalized. Hernández struck a one-year deal with the Dodgers on Sunday that will pay him $6.5 million in 2025, according to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly.
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Scenes from Day 1 of Dodgers camp
Other than the arrival of pitcher Clayton Kershaw –– whose new contract with the Dodgers is not yet finalized, but could be as soon as Wednesday –– there were few surprises at the Dodgers’ first workout of spring training Tuesday.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Dustin May headlined the group of pitchers to throw bullpen sessions at the team’s Camelback Ranch facility. Kershaw and Shohei Ohtani also played catch, though neither is expected to be ready to pitch by opening day.
Mookie Betts, Will Smith, Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernández were among the group of hitters who arrived at camp early and were taking batting practice.
The rest of the Dodgers’ position players are set to report to spring training by the end of this week. The team’s Cactus League schedule will kick off on Feb. 20 with a game against the Chicago Cubs –– who will also be the Dodgers’ opening day opponent in Tokyo next month when the team’s regular season begins with a two-game series in Japan.
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Kenley Jansen agrees to a deal with the Angels in a return to Southern California
Kenley Jansen is returning to Southern California, the veteran closer agreeing to terms on Tuesday to a one-year, $10-million contract with the Angels pending a physical, according to a person familiar with the deal but not authorized to speak publicly about it.
Jansen, a 37-year-old right-hander, is baseball’s active leader in saves (447) and appearances (871), the majority of those coming during his 12-year stint with the Dodgers, when he went 37-26 with a 2.37 ERA and 350 saves in 701 games from 2010 to 2021.
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He’s back: Fan favorite Kiké Hernández agrees to one-year deal with Dodgers
After welcoming a flurry of new faces to the organization this offseason, the Dodgers brought back a much more familiar figure on Sunday.
The team and Kiké Hernández have agreed on a one-year contract that will see the veteran utilityman re-sign with the club for its World Series defense in 2025, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly.
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Dodgers bring back former GM Farhan Zaidi in a special advisor role
PHOENIX — A familiar face is returning to the Dodgers’ front office.
On Monday, the club brought back former general manager Farhan Zaidi in a special advisor role, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly. In his new position, Zaidi will also assist team owner and chairman Mark Walter in the businessman’s other sports interests.
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Dodgers draw a crowd as pitchers and catchers work out on first day
Plenty more to come from Camelback Ranch from Dodgers beat reporter Jack Harris and columnist Dylan Hernández, but this is the early look at the scene:
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How will Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts look? 4 things to watch at Dodgers spring training
PHOENIX — Ninety-nine percent.
According to Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA projection system, that is the Dodgers’ likelihood of making the playoffs this year. A whopping 99.4%, to be exact, before a single pitch has even been thrown.