Kershaw discusses factors that made his decision to stay in LA an easy one
By: Rowan Kavner
Tags: MLB, Sports, Dodgers, Transactions, Clayton Kershaw

by Rowan Kavner

Three factors played considerable roles in Clayton Kershaw’s decision to agree Friday to stay with the Dodgers through 2021.

His wife, Ellen, and his children enjoy being in Los Angeles, where Kershaw feels his family now has roots in the community. He wants to win, which he feels he can do with the Dodgers.

And he wants to prove doubters wrong.

“Once Ellen gave me the go-ahead that she wanted to stick it out for three more years and really, really enjoyed it here, it was an easy decision for me,” Kershaw said. “Winning is still the most important thing for me. That hasn’t changed. It won’t change. I think with this deal, as well, it gives me a chance to prove a lot of people wrong. I think this year especially, maybe rightfully so, but there’s been a lot of people saying I’m in decline or not going to be as good as I once was. I’m looking forward to proving a lot of people wrong with that.”

The criticisms Kershaw’s referring to stem largely from stints on the disabled list and a dip in velocity, and he addressed both Friday. While he spent time on the DL twice this year with shoulder and back injuries — the latter sending him to the DL for the third straight season — he said he felt toward the end of 2018 his back was the best its felt in a long time.

More than anything, as he looks ahead, he’s setting his sights on staying on the field.

“No doubt, 2016 I had a herniated disk and it was difficult,” Kershaw said. “It was very difficult. But now, I think with each year that passes, I keep getting stronger and stronger in that region, my back keeps getting healthier and healthier.”

Despite the injuries, Kershaw still finished the season with a 2.73 ERA and 1.04 WHIP, ranking in the top five among all National League starters (minimum 25 starts) in the categories. As for the velocity drop, Kershaw said he’s more worried about figuring out how best to get batters out efficiently.

“I plan on getting back to that level that I was at,” Kershaw said. “If that means the velocity comes back, I’m not counting that out. It very well could. I have some ideas on maybe what I can do to improve on that.”

Kershaw said he’ll bounce those ideas off strength and conditioning coach Brandon McDaniel. He also referenced studying veteran pitchers with just as many if not more innings and years logged in the league — from Justin Verlander, to Max Scherzer, to Cole Hamels.

As he considered the type of deal to take, Kershaw wasn’t going to sign an agreement he didn’t think he could live up to.

“That’s part of the reason for this deal, is that I really believe for three years I can be just as good as I ever have been,” Kershaw said. “I’m not saying I can’t be good past that, but that’s as long as I was willing to commit to it right now. We’ll see where we are after three years, but I feel really good about that chunk of time.”

Kershaw said there wasn’t much of a question this time around about working out a deal with the Dodgers.

The two sides extended the deadline for the decision he had to make regarding the option on his contract to Friday, buying time for the two sides to reach a larger agreement.

Los Angeles and the Dodgers meet all the criteria he and his family are looking for.

“I talked a lot with Ellen,” Kershaw said. “My kiddos love it here. Ellen loves it here. I love it here. I love the team here.

“Myself personally, a chance to win every single year, it doesn’t come around like this in LA very often. We just decided that it was a much better option to try and work it out here than do anything else.”