The Los Angeles Dodgers came into the season knowing this could possibly be the final year of Clayton Kershaw’s legendary career. However, as the season progressed, Kershaw consistently declined to give a definitive answer — and rightfully so.
“But I don’t know what is going to happen in the future. I really have no idea when it comes to the years beyond this one,” Kershaw said. “So I’m just trying to enjoy it, be part of a really good team this year. We still have a lot to accomplish. We still have October. It’s really hard to look at stuff individually when you’re trying to accomplish something as a team.”
On Thursday, he finally revealed that he has made a decision about his future. Kershaw is going to call it a career.
“I’m really not sad,” Kershaw said. “I’m really not. I’m really at peace with this. It’s just emotional. I tried to hold it together. I told our guys not to make it weird today because I was going to get weird if you make it weird. And here I am, making it weird.”
Kershaw has had one of the most storied careers of any starting pitcher in the league. While it’s devastating to know he won’t be returning, the timing of his announcement could provide the Dodgers with the spark they desperately need.
“Clayton Kershaw dropping he’s retiring one week before the playoffs start is a genius move. Added incentive for every guy in that locker room to win one more ring for the Hall of Famer,” Dodgers writer Blake Harris wrote.
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There’s no denying the Dodgers haven’t been playing their best brand of baseball lately. Kershaw announcing his retirement now injects the team with much-needed motivation at a time when the season has felt off track.
Perhaps Kershaw knew exactly what he was doing. It’s entirely possible he didn’t want to make the season about himself. Whatever the reason, the Dodgers now have some serious playoff motivation — and maybe that’s just what they needed.
