The Clayton Kershaw-Texas Rangers rumors are beginning to swirl again

Well, that didn’t take long! After another failed season for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022, the question of legendary pitcher Clayton Kershaw’s future whereabouts has once again emerged (Texas Rangers).

It hasn’t even been a full 48 hours since the Dodgers’ season ended at the hands of the San Diego Padres. Things move fast, don’t they? Baseball can be brutally unforgiving, and this is no different.

Let’s refresh your memory: last off-season, the Texas Rangers nearly signed Clayton Kershaw. That’s not hyperbole: in fact, Kershaw’s hometown baseball club was the only other he was considering besides a return to Los Angeles. This is well-known. And he returned because he wanted to win a championship. So much for that in 2022.

Thus, the rumors have begun swirling again: will Clayton Kershaw finally leave the LA Dodgers for the Texas Rangers? Now could be the time to do so.

Texas Rangers in the mix for Clayton Kershaw once again

The Rangers reportedly offered more money and years to Kershaw than the Dodgers last winter, a sign that they were clearly interested in adding the Cy Young lefty to their rotation. And that interest should still remain, especially after Kershaw had a great 2022, posting a 2.28 ERA in 22 starts.

As the 34-year-old ages, he’s also made spending family time a priority: he’d be able to accomplish that by signing with the Rangers. He had that opportunity last year, too, but we respect his desire to win.

The Dodgers though, despite how good they were in the regular season, proved fallible in 2022. There’s a lot of uncertainty around their 2023 roster: will Trea Turner come back? How will the Dodgers re-assemble their rotation behind ace Julio Urias and Dustin May? Walker Buehler is out with Tommy John surgery, a big blow. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman are there, but many questions still surround LA, and quite frankly, that should be unappealing to Kershaw.

And let’s be real: being a career Dodger is the only thing left for him to accomplish there. If that’s significant to him, that’s well within his right to make happen.

Now. the Rangers don’t come without their own questions, of course, like… proving they can win. But a lot seems certain from a personnel standpoint: Texas’ lineup is potent and the front office is committed to adding pitching to support them, as well as taking advantage of one of the deepest farm systems in baseball. There’s something brewing in Arlington, and Clayton Kershaw should sense it. And oddly enough, there does seem to be more continuity, at least in regards to the roster, in Texas heading into 2023 than in Los Angeles, manager search and all.

Clayton Kershaw came close to pitching for the Texas Rangers in 2022. Perhaps the two sides will make a marriage work in 2023.