When Tom Brady announced on Tuesday that he would not be returning to the New England Patriots for the 2020 season, it got me thinking about the fate of my own sports heroes. Tom Brady has meant as much to the city of Boston these last 20 years as John Adams did back in the Revolutionary Period. So when I started relating Brady’s situation to current long-term Los Angeles athletes, there’s really only one name that comes to mind: Clayton Kershaw. Of course I can’t bring up LA sports icons without mentioning Kobe Bryant, but he DID spend his whole career here. We got to witness all 20 years of his career right here in Los Angeles. On the other hand, Kershaw, like Brady, is still playing. So if we’re talking about the most impactful LA professional athletes of the last 15 years, Kershaw is second to only Kobe.
Eight All-Star selections, three Cy Young Awards, and an MVP are just a few of the accolades that Clayton Kershaw has managed to capture over his twelve year MLB career. The only thing that has eluded the long-time Dodgers ace is a World Series championship. However, knowing what we know now, it’s safe to assume the Dodgers were cheated out of a championship in 2017 at the hands of the Houston Asterisks. Regardless, despite the lack of a World Series trophy and postseason hardships, he is still my favorite player on the Dodgers, and has been for the better part of his career. So, if he decided to pull a Tom Brady and leave Chavez Ravine for another franchise, how would I feel about it?
Kershaw still has two years left on his current contract with the Dodgers, making him an unrestricted free agent in 2022. Despite some back issues over the past couple years that have sidelined him at times, he is still very effective. Just last season he was named an N.L. All-Star and finished eighth in Cy Young voting with a 16-5 record and 3.03 ERA in 178.1 innings. It’s tough to say whether or not he’ll be able to reach the 200 innings mark again in his career, but being that manager Dave Roberts named him the 2020 Opening Day starter (before Coronavirus delayed the start of the season) for the NINTH time in his career, it proves he’s still got it. In a rotation that includes young stud Walker Buehler, Kershaw really must’ve shown Roberts that even at 32 years old (happy birthday) he’s got the stuff to lead the staff.
The biggest difference between Kershaw and Brady at this point in their careers is their ages. Kershaw is ten years younger than Brady, which probably made it easier for the Patriots to part ways with the six-time Super Bowl Champion, being that coach Bill Belichick is known for parting ways with players sooner rather than later. In 2022, when Kershaw will be 34, assuming his performance hasn’t declined too much by then, he will be a highly sought-after free agent. He’s one of the most decorated pitchers in the league, and if he can manage to pitch 150-175 innings over the next two seasons and stay relatively healthy, why wouldn’t teams go after him? The Dodgers are one of the wealthiest sports teams in the world, but who knows if they think he’ll be worth his hefty price tag by then. Brady knew he could get more money going elsewhere, so what happens if Kershaw does the same thing.
At 34, assuming he hasn’t suffered any major injuries, Kershaw will no doubt have a lot left in the tank (5+ more years) and will be looking for the best deal. Sure, he’s been with the Dodgers since he was drafted by them in the first round back in 2006, but plenty of guys have left the only organization they’ve ever know in search of greener pastures. I’m at the point in my fandom that even if the Dodgers are foolish enough to let him go, I will root for him no matter where he ends up. He has given me so many fond memories throughout the years and is such a charitable person off the field that he’d be impossible to root against.
However, this is the type of player no team should ever let go of. He has become such a leader in the locker room and his name is so engrained in Dodgers lore that it is nearly impossible to think of him in another uniform. I’m not Andrew Friedman, but if he’s happy with the organization (all signs say he is) then the Dodgers need to do everything in their power to resign him and have him end his career in Dodger Blue.
Aaaaand now I’m feeling sentimental:
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