Plaschke: Clayton Kershaw isn’t the Dodgers’ star, but he’s still their heart and soul

When Los Angeles final noticed Clayton Kershaw, he was slowly dragging himself off the pitching mound on a sullen Friday evening in October.

It was solely the second inning. His shoulders have been slumped. His left elbow was screaming. His season was performed. His Dodgers profession was seemingly completed.

Observers satisfied of this finality ominously famous that, as an alternative of executing the normal handoff to supervisor Dave Roberts, Kershaw saved the baseball for himself.

All of which makes it very cool that on a wonderful Friday 5 months later, he determined to carry it again.

Sigh. Whew. Yay! Kershaw continues to be a Dodger, the free agent future Corridor-of-Famer avoiding the romance of his hometown Texas Rangers to return to Chavez Ravine for a one-year deal price $17 million plus incentives.

He’s again, for a fifteenth season, maintaining alive a Kobe-Bryant sort run that would hold him a Dodger for all times.

He’s again, at soon-to-be age 34, for one 12 months that may very well be his final 12 months, this contract presumably ending in a statue.

He’s again, that uncommon Los Angeles athlete who has caught round for the whole evolution of a memorable profession, from younger ace to playoff loser to World Collection champion to battered however beloved veteran.

He’s not again as a savior. He’s not even again as a top-two starter. He’s again with elbow uncertainty, an growing older physique, and a pay lower of as much as $14 million.

Kershaw received’t be including to his document 9 opening day begins — that torch has been handed to Walker Buehler — and he may begin the season on the injured listing whereas nonetheless recovering from final October’s vital elbow harm.

However, goodness, he’s again, and guess who’s getting the loudest cheers when his crew makes its first look at Dodger Stadium? Guess whose potential loss significantly troubled most Dodgers followers this winter, even those that appropriately booed him throughout all these earlier October meltdowns?

Clayton Kershaw is cherished greater than any present participant, and his return was important to the crew’s reference to the group, and he’ll be well worth the $17 million in sentiment and symbolism alone.

However make no mistake. This was greater than a potential Kobe-retirement contract. This was greater than a possible parting present. The Dodgers’ entrance workplace doesn’t shed tears, they crunch numbers, and Kershaw doesn’t shed tears, he’s throws curveballs, and, on this case, the underside line is way bolder than the headline.

With a beginning pitching employees weakened by suspension and defection, the Dodgers want Kershaw.

With a future unsure by age and harm, Kershaw wants the Dodgers.

The Dodgers have mainly two confirmed championship starters in Buehler and Julio Urías. They misplaced Max Scherzer to the New York Mets. They proceed to lose Trevor Bauer to baseball’s home violence penalties, as he was positioned on at the very least one other week of administrative go away Friday and can seemingly be ultimately suspended or lower.

They want veteran arms, significantly October arms, and if nothing else, if he can keep wholesome throughout what’s going to absolutely be a protected common season, Kershaw will give them that.

“It’s not simply what he’s meant wanting again, it’s additionally what we predict he’ll do for our championship odds in ’22,” stated Dodgers’ baseball boss Andrew Friedman to reporters this winter.

As for Kershaw, as a result of he’s nonetheless recovering from the elbow harm, this deal permits him to rehabilitate in a snug setting with out strain whereas giving him an opportunity to show his resilience for future suitors.

Final 12 months he had his highest ERA (3.55) since his rookie season whereas making simply 22 begins in a summer season wracked by harm. If he does need to ultimately need to return to his hometown Texas Rangers on strong footing, a powerful season right here would enable him to take action.

The one-year deal offers each events a wanted jolt, even when Kershaw is the fourth starter who doesn’t take the mound till Could, particularly if he spends the season mainly preparing for the playoffs.

After all, who is aware of, in an ideal state of affairs, it may result in that lifetime stick with one crew that has develop into so uncommon on this period of free company. Amongst Dodgers’ Corridor of Fame pitchers, his retirement right here would perpetually put him within the firm of Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, his No. 22 holding particular which means because it shines from that Dodger Stadium wall.

And, lastly, after years of fretting over his postseason troubles, Dodgers followers lastly appear to need Kershaw again.

They’ve booed him. They questioned him. However, lastly, it appears, most are offered on him. He’s received them a World Collection. He’s given them a constant icon. He’s launched them to, “We Are Younger.”

After he left the mound early and injured on that long-ago October evening in opposition to the Milwaukee Brewers, Roberts overtly fretted that everybody was seeing him in Dodgers’ uniform for the final time.

“It was tough, it was his final dwelling begin, you simply don’t know what the longer term will predict, so I wished it to be particular for him and his household,” Roberts stated on the time. “It didn’t finish the best way we hoped.”

Seems, it hasn’t ended in any respect.

The Dodgers have retained their rock. Clayton Kershaw is again.