The offseason is coming to a close, with teams getting ready for spring training. As of Tuesday morning, Texas was still eyeing two free agent targets: Clayton Kershaw and Jordan Montgomery. However, Kershaw took himself off the free agent market by agreeing to re-sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers for his 17th season with the team.

Rumors had circulated that Texas could be a possible destination for Kershaw, considering their World Series win and his offseason residence in Dallas. But in the end, he decided to stay with the Dodgers instead of coming back home to play for the Rangers. The article asks why there was a delay in Kershaw’s signing and why he ultimately chose Los Angeles.

One possible reason for the delay is Kershaw’s shoulder surgery, which will sideline him for at least the first half of the season. If he had signed earlier, the Dodgers would have had to make a 40-man roster move, potentially releasing a player to accommodate Kershaw. By waiting to sign, Kershaw was doing the Dodgers a favor and ensuring that they wouldn’t have to release anyone.

The Dodgers are starting their season early this year with a two-game series against the Padres in South Korea. Pitchers and catchers are reporting on February 9th, and Kershaw will be able to sign with the team and be immediately placed on the 60-day injured list. This means he won’t need to be on the 40-man roster, and the Dodgers won’t have to release anyone.

As for why Kershaw chose the Dodgers, it is believed that he genuinely only considered playing for Los Angeles or Texas. However, it seems unlikely that he will ever don a Texas Rangers uniform. Kershaw is committed to staying with the Dodgers and becoming one of the rare players to spend his entire career with one organization, joining the likes of Sandy Koufax and Jackie Robinson.

Although Texas fans would have loved to see Kershaw pitch for his hometown team, it seems that he will retire as a Dodger. The article concludes by speculating about a potential World Series matchup featuring Kershaw, along with pitchers like Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom. While it may not be with the Rangers, Texas fans can still hope to witness Kershaw in action against other star-studded teams in the postseason.