December 26th, 2021 at 9:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka Longtime Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer, of that you can be sure. The question is, has his five-year eligibility waiting period already started, or will it begin at another time?
There are some – perhaps even many – who believe that the 33-year-old Dallas, TX native and Dodgers first-round draft pick (seventh overall) in 2006 out of Highland Park High School in University Park, TX threw his final pitch as a Dodger – and a major leaguer – on October 1, 2021, against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium in only his 22nd start of the 2021 regular season after missing ten weeks due to inflammation and soreness in his left elbow and forearm, and from which he was removed after only 1.2 innings with left forearm discomfort. The good news (if you care to call it that) is that he did not (and apparently will not) require Tommy John surgery. He did, however, miss the entire Dodgers 2021 postseason – and we all know how that one ended.
“My future is going to take care of itself. I’m not really worried about that right now. I really wanted to be with this group going into October,” Kershaw said postgame. “I haven’t wrapped my head around [free agency], and I don’t plan to anytime soon.
“I just wanted to be a part of this team going into October. This team is special,” Kershaw added. “I know we’re going to do something special this year, and I wanted to be a part of that.”
He wasn’t, and they didn’t.
Although still only 33 years old, the thought of him retiring from the game may seem unreasonable or even ridiculous to some. But the fact that Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman did not (or would not) match the three-year/$130 million the New York Mets gave to 37-year-old fellow future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer to remain with the Dodgers suggests that he may not be willing to offer Kershaw anything even close to that to remain in Dodger Blue. Then again, the fact that the Dodgers have paid Kershaw $257,701,142 over his 14 seasons with the Dodgers might suggest that he might be willing to give Friedman and the Dodgers a ‘hometown discount’ to remain in LA … but I wouldn’t count on it.
Was that baseball that Kershaw carried off the field on October 1, 2021, his last as a Dodger, or will there be more?
Stay tuned…
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Posted in 
it felt additionally poignant that it was in his hand and not just tucked into the glove, as if he knew he’d never do this again. as we have discussed prior, i do not believe he can pitch again without TJ. i wish they could have worked out the two year deal where the bulk is paid in the second season with the first allowing access to team facilities and trainers (excluding lockout) and gotten him to the knife without delay. i believe a one year deal would be an abysmal failure and tarnish his image further. perhaps he knows this as well or better than anyone and is struggling with the prospect of a difficult 18 months vs moving on to his life with the kiddoes.
Time to retire.
Koufax walked away on top of the world as one of the three best Lefties in history. Might be best for CK to do the same.
That’s how I see it as well. They are also close friends, and you have to believe that there have been conversations about such between the two.
The thing that ALWAYS goes through my mind is: What if it had been called Sandy Koufax Surgery instead of Tommy John Surgery?
Enjoy baseball immortality in Cooperstown, Kersh!