Dodgers' Kershaw drops out of WBC: 'Just didn't work out'
Los Angeles Dodgers star left-hander Clayton Kershaw announced Friday that he won't pitch for Team USA in next month's World Baseball Classic.
Kershaw, slated to serve as the defending champion's ace, didn't specify the reason behind the decision. However, he said he's fully healthy and that his withdrawal isn't injury related.
"(It's) super disappointing. We tried a lot of different things, all sides really tried to make it work. Nothing's wrong with me, it just didn't work out," he told reporters, according to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez. "I really wanted to do it, really wanted to be a part of that group - probably my last chance to get to do it, so I really wanted to do it. It just didn't work out for a number of reasons."
Kershaw hinted earlier this week that he might bow out of the WBC, referring to unspecified "complications" that needed to be worked out. The issue is apparently insurance-related, as the 34-year-old couldn't secure coverage for his $20-million contract due to his recent injury history, sources told Ken Rosenthal and Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Players participating in the WBC require insurance coverage in case of an injury during the tournament.
Kershaw said Friday that the Dodgers always supported his WBC participation, even as he tried to work through the problems this week.
"I'm blown away that he was willing to pursue every avenue to try and put the USA across his chest and represent us in the WBC," Team USA manager Mark DeRosa told Rosenthal and Ardaya. "At the end of the day, it just seemed like there were way too many things he had to do."
Clayton Kershaw on frustration of not being able to play WBC:
— Jack Harris (@Jack_A_Harris) February 17, 2023
"They should make it easy for guys that want to play to play. Obviously, if [your MLB] team doesn’t want you to play, that’s one thing. But if you have the team’s blessing, like I did, it should be easier.”
Losing Kershaw is another blow to Team USA's rotation following Nestor Cortes' departure from the tournament earlier this week due to a hamstring injury. The Americans still boast a solid rotation featuring Adam Wainwright, Miles Mikolas, Kyle Freeland, and Lance Lynn, among others.
Kershaw has missed time due to various injuries over the last several seasons, including a recurring back issue that flared up again in 2022. He hasn't made more than 28 starts in a campaign since 2015.
When healthy, the three-time Cy Young Award winner continues to be one of the best in the business. He battled through stints on the injured list last season to post a 2.28 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over 22 starts, marking his best 162-game campaign since 2018.