Friday Newsletter time: Clayton Kershaw to Texas Rangers speculation makes some sense. But signing him doesn't.
The Dodgers left-hander is from Dallas and still lives there, but the timing isn't right for the Rangers to bring him home.
The rumor of the day Thursday involving the Texas Rangers was that they could become the team to sign left-hander Clayton Kershaw should the Los Angeles Dodgers fail to do so.
Kershaw, who is certain to become a first-ballot Hall of Famer, is a free agent after the season. He has spent his entire career with the Dodgers, who selected him in the first round of the 2006 draft.
They selected him from Highland Park High School, and he still lives in Dallas in the offseason. Another former MLB pitcher from Highland Park who still lives in Dallas is Chris Young, the Rangers’ general manager.
Young, along with president of baseball operations Jon Daniels, has said multiple times the past few months that the Rangers will have money to spend this offseason.
It’s not hard to connect the dots from Kershaw to the Rangers. Maybe that’s why some are doing it. Heck, maybe it happens.
Just don’t bet on it.
Kershaw is 33 years old. He has pitched in the postseason 10 times in his 14 seasons. He doesn’t have many seasons left, and the guess is he doesn’t want to spend what he has left out of contention even for just a season.
The Rangers do not expect to contend next season. They are optimistic they will be better, but one starting pitcher isn’t going to make a major difference, not even in-his-prime Kershaw.
But this isn’t in-his-prime Kershaw. Is he better than anything the Rangers have? Yes. But he has dealt with back injuries recently and isn’t pitching this postseason because of an elbow injury.
He’s also making $31 million this season. The Rangers say they have money, but they would be better served spending it on position players who will upgrade the offense and pitchers who can eat innings.
Think Jordan Lyles, though not necessarily Lyles. He’s a free agent who logged 180 innings this season, and the Rangers haven’t ruled him out. But they need to rule out others before turning back to him.
The Rangers are going to sign a starting pitcher, probably even two, but don’t bet on one of them being Kershaw.
Last call for DIFD tickets
The 2021 Do It For Durrent charity event, Do It For Durrett Rocks, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at Legal Draft in Arlington. Friday is the last day to purchase tickets.
Bidding for the silent auction, though, continues through 9 p.m. Saturday. It’s online this year through 32auctions.com. With some recent late donations, there will be a few items auctioned off Saturday.
The Do It For Durrett Foundation is named for former DFW sports personality Richard Durrett, who passed away suddenly in 2014 and left behind a pregnant wife and two small children. The foundation has raised $1.3 million and has helped more than 100 families who have experienced sudden loss.
Card of the Week
So many former Rangers players have contributed their time, dollars, equipment and autographs to Do It For Durrett over the years, it’s hard to list them all. One, though, has gone above and beyond all others.
It’s left-hander Derek Holland, who, when he isn’t gathering and donating memorabilia, he’s donating his time. One of the biggest items at each live auction has been a Date with Derek, where he auctions himself off for a night at a Dallas Stars game or a Top Golf or something else.
So, to honor Holland’s commitment, his 2011 Topps Triple Threads autograph relic card is the Card of the Week.
It’s not the most valuable card in the world, but he’s been a valuable asset to the DFW community. He has his own charity, the 60 Feet 6 Foundation, that raises money in the fight against pediatric cancer.
His annual event is Nov. 11 at the Pavilion at the Toyota Music Factory in Irving. Consider supporting it as well as Do It For Durrett.
Doggy video!
This has been attempted on the Wilson dogs, who didn’t come anywhere close to showing the remarkable patience as this good boy. Enjoy. See you Monday.
Totally agree re Kershaw. Rangers need to stop acquiring post peak expensive talent, ie. Kluber, Fielder.
If Kershaw needs to sign a one year deal to prove his elbow is healthy, then I could see him possibly signing here. It would be a big gamble for any team to sign him to a multiple year deal.