Clayton Kershaw Reveals His Likely Plans For Next Season

Clayton Kershaw took much of the offseason last year to decide whether to subject his body to another grueling season of pitching in the major leagues. His decision to come back in 2022 was ultimately a brilliant one, as he's had another All-Star season. 

But what of next year? Can he do it again at age 35? He gave a thinly veiled hint at his plans in speaking with Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.

"I do think I’m leaning towards playing over not, for sure... I hold the right to change my mind," says the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner, "but as of today, I think that I’ve got at least one more run."

As long as he remains healthy, baseball’s fiercest competitor intends to compete again next year.

“I hold the right to change my mind, but as of today, I think that I’ve got at least one more run,” Clayton Kershaw said. https://t.co/mJCCmALdoI pic.twitter.com/hrgCoyhzwH

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) September 22, 2022

And while he does see himself pitching next season, the Dallas native (whose family lives there), who has spent his entire 15-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, isn't sure where he'll pitch.

Last offseason, his hometown Texas Rangers were rumored as a possibility, if he didn't retire or return to Los Angeles.

As for a decision to pitch again next season, it's all about health for Kershaw.

“I don’t want to be hurt,” he said. “It’s just a horrible feeling. You just feel useless. You feel like you’re in the way. I don’t want to deal with that anymore. So if I felt like I was going to get hurt all the time, I don’t want to do that anymore.”

He did go on the IL earlier in the season with a pelvic issue, and again on Aug. 5 with lower back pain. The latter injury caused him to miss almost a month. But in his four starts since returning from the IL on September 1, he's 2-0 with an ERA of 1.50 ERA, bringing his season numbers to 9-3 with a 2.39 ERA.

 Photos: Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK, Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports