After an unforgettable fall classic, complete with an 11-inning Game 7 that will forever live in the depths of professional baseball history, Kershaw’s plan to retire, a plan he announced in mid-September, became a reality.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner recently announced that president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman had given him a permanent job offer to return to the organization in some capacity.
More news: Dodgers’ Max Muncy claps back at story that the best team didn’t win the World Series
“He mentioned something I could hang out at,” Kershaw said. “That’s good, man. I don’t know what that looks like. But this is a special organization. They don’t need me to win the World Series. That’s for sure. But if there’s anything I can do in the future to be a part of it, be there, I hope that’s the case.”
“I think the main thing is having this fifth child and being a father for a while. I don’t think there’s a full-time job in the near future.”
Kershaw humbly noted that he wasn’t needed to win a World Series, but amid the seemingly constant pitching injuries this season, he was a more than reliable piece to keep the Dodgers afloat.
The left-hander made 23 appearances (22 starts) in 2025, going 11-2 with a 3.36 ERA. His 112.2 innings of work was much more than a legend of the game, who many considered taking a victory lap, but a big part of the Dodgers’ pitching success.
In the postseason, Kershaw took two very tough innings on the chin during Game 3 of the NLDS, but assuming those innings went to a standard reliever, the Dodgers might not have gotten there during Game 4.
During the 18-inning thriller that was Game 3 of the World Series, Kershaw entered the 12th inning with two outs and a bases-loaded jam. Considering the Dodgers lost the next two games, his eight pitches were among the most impactful in getting out of the inning unscathed.
More news: Newly released Dodgers pitcher signs with KBO team
Photo credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn images
Have you downloaded the new Dodgers Nation app yet? Click here for Apple users And here for Android users to be part of the redesigned app to give fans everything they need, all in one placee. Don’t miss it live GameCast with play-by-play, news and analysis, Dodgers Nation podcasts and videos, all the stats you want and more!
#Dodgers #Clayton #Kershaw #reveals #return #organization #future