By now, most Dodger fans have heard rumblings about LA Times Dodgers beat writer Jorge Castillo’s recent exclusive interview with Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw at his home in Dallas, TX.

It was not a warm and fuzzy interview. Then again, Kershaw interviews rarely are. But what Kershaw interviews usually are, are cut-to-the-chase, no BS, straight-from-the-heart interviews without any fluff, and Dodger fans who can’t handle such might not want to read any further.

Although a subscription is required to read LA Times online articles, Castillo gave us just enough info on Twitter to whet our appetite (and consider subscribing – go figure). Here are Castillo’s tweets:

As you can imagine, Castillo’s tweets caused a flood of replies (appetites whet). Chief among them was the premise that since the three-time National League Cy Young Award winner, 2014 MLB MVP, Triple Crown winner, eight-time All-Star, Gold Glove winner, five-time ERA title winner, 2014 MLB Player of the Year, and 2020 World Series Champion will be 33-year-old on March 19, and because of that 2020 World Series Champion thing, Kershaw, a (very) devout family man, may very well retire at the conclusion of the 2021 season, his 14th.

It’s no secret that the future Hall of Famer has received harsh criticism (from ignorant media types) for making it to the World Series in three of the last four years before finally winning one. Well, here’s a clue … he was one of 25 guys (26 in 2020) on the Dodgers roster. That said, his World Series numbers are 3-2 with an un-Kershaw-like 4.46 ERA. He has also given up six World Series home runs in his combined 38.1 innings pitched. On the other side of that coin, he struck out 41 of the 149 batters he faced during his three Fall Classics while walking only 11 (three intentionally) for an excellent 3.73 K/BB ratio.

So why retire, you ask? The simple answer is that, in addition to that ‘devout family man’ thing, the Dodgers first-round draft pick in 2006 out of Highland Park High School in University Park, TX, will have earned a total of $226,701,173 when the final out of the 2021 regular season is recorded. In other words, he most certainly doesn’t need the money … especially with a World Series ring now on his finger.

But there is a fly in the ointment, as they say (whoever they are). Among the comments to Castillo’s tweets were several that suggested that Kershaw may prefer to pitch another season (or two) with a team closer to his Dallas home – i.e., the Texas Rangers or (heaven forbid) the Houston Astros. That said, it is my opinion (and only my opinion) that the career Dodger will retire as a career Dodger and will enter the sacred Halls of Cooperstown proudly wearing a Dodgers hat.

Godspeed to you, Clayton, Ellen, Cali, Charley, and Cooper.

Play Ball!

  *  *  *  *  *  *