Making the case for why the Texas Rangers should sign Clayton Kershaw

We are less than a week away from Christmas day and a future Hall-of-Fame pitcher still sits on the shelf waiting to be signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers or Texas Rangers. Clayton Kershaw, who resides in the offseason outside of Dallas, is still undecided on who to play for in 2024. In 2021 Kershaw waited until after the lockout to sign with the Dodgers. In 2022 he signed in November shortly after the start of the offseason. It was assumed that he would continue to sign these one-year deals with LA as he has the last two seasons. That was before the signing of Shohei Ohtani and the trade for Tyler Glasnow. It also was before the flirtation with Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. I think it is time to seriously consider whether Texas is a serious contender for Kershaw and why that would be a very smart decision by this front office.

Is Texas actually "in play" to sign Clayton Kershaw?

Kershaw has made millions throughout his career and so money is not what is going to decide where he plays. He wants to win. Texas can now sell Kershaw on being able to win it all in Arlington. That was certainly not the case before when Texas was coming off a 60-win season and a 68-win season after the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Playing close to home looks more alluring when a team wins a World Series like Texas did last month.

Kershaw's last playoff memories with Los Angeles are not pleasant ones. The Dodgers were just swept by Arizona in the Divisional Round and lost a four-game series to the San Diego Padres in 2022. The Dodgers are making vast improvements and will return Walker Buehler in 2024, but is that enough to shake the bad feelings left over from the last two playoff appearances for the Dodgers.

Texas can offer proximity to home, the money he is looking for, and the ability to compete for a World Series in an American League that is winnable. I think Kershaw is taking all of this into consideration and is giving more consideration to Texas now than he has in previous offseasons. Kershaw would have the ability to play with his former teammate Corey Seager, and be in the same rotation with Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer for at least one season. Those are two reasons why the left-hander might want to bring his overhand curveball to the Lone Star State.

Would it be smart to sign Clayton Kershaw?

This question is not as easy to answer as it would appear. Kershaw did recently have shoulder surgery and will be out till at least mid-season. He has just been signing one-year contracts lately and so Texas might be signing him for just 10 starts. Texas already has three other pitchers in Max Scherzer, Tyler Mahle, and Jacob deGrom who will not be back till midseason now. Would it make sense to add Kershaw to that list of injured pitchers?

One thing to remember about Kershaw is that when he pitches he is still very good. He is still among the best pitchers in all of baseball when healthy. Kershaw in 2023 had a 13-5 record with a 2.46 ERA in 24 starts. His ERA+ was 177. If Kershaw was on Texas' staff in 2023 he would have been Texas' best starting pitcher and it would not have been particularly close. The only two pitchers close to Kershaw in ERA+ were Scherzer at 140 and deGrom at 169. Those were in much fewer starts. If Kershaw can recover physically then the stuff is still there and he would vastly improve the rotation. He would be ready in time to help Texas make a push to the playoffs and maybe a second World Series.

The second reason to add Kershaw is the mentorship he can provide to young pitchers such as Jack Leiter, Owen White, Cody Bradford, and Zak Kent. He can show them what it takes to be a major league pitcher. He can be there to answer questions and give them advice during spring that could help them take that next step once the regular season starts. Those are four pitchers that Texas will be needing this season and in the future. Kershaw's expertise and wisdom built up through a long career will only help this pitching staff even if the left-hander is only able to pitch half a season.