Will Kike Hernandez & Clayton Kershaw Return to the Dodgers?

Fans have been enjoying a Dodgers dream over the past few months, from watching the team win the World Series to enjoying the news of what is arguably a perfect offseason. Though, fans have a couple more players on their radar.

Dodgers’ “Perfect” Offseason: What’s Missing?

Kike Hernandez and Clayton Kershaw still remain free agents, and in the eyes of many, are important pieces to a Dodgers puzzle at least in 2025, and perhaps beyond.

To recap, the Dodgers signed LHP Blake Snell, RHP Roki Sasaki, LHP Tanner Scott, RHP Kirby Yates, 2B Hyeseong Kim and OF Michael Conforto. They also brought back LF Teoscar Hernandez, RHP Blake Treinen and extended CF Tommy Edman.

It’s a stacked lineup of players, and a full 40-man roster.

How the Dodgers Can Sign Both Kike Hernandez and Clayton Kershaw

They may not be done, though, as they’ve reportedly been exploring deals to open up spots on that 40-man roster. Players who could be moved include RHP Ryan Brasier, RHP Michael Grove and UTIL Chris Taylor.

So that could be one way to include Kike and Kershaw.

Keep in mind though, to move a player like Taylor could require that the Dodgers pair a top prospect like LF Dalton Rushing or OF Josue De Paula as the other team would assume Taylor’s $13 million salary, as his $12 million escalates by $1 million if he’s traded before 2026.

Another option, the more likely option, is to sign both players when pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training. This happens for the Dodgers on February 11.

After they report for their first workout, the Dodgers will be allowed to move players to their 60-day injured list (IL), which effectively opens up roster spots on the team’s 40-man roster.

Once a player is placed on the 60-day IL, they must remain there for at least 60 days and temporarily are removed from the club’s 40-man roster.

Players that are expected to get moved to the 60-day IL on February 11 include:

• RHP Gavin Stone (expected to miss the season after undergoing shoulder surgery)
• RHP Emmet Sheehan (expected to miss at least half the season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery in May 2024)
• LHP River Ryan (expected to miss the season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery in August 2024)

That’s three spots open for the Dodgers to add players to the 40-man roster.

Dodgers’ 40-Man Roster Dilemma

Remember that Sasaki will likely gain one of those three spots, leaving two openings.

There are no indications that the Dodgers are looking to sign either of Kike or Kershaw, but there are also no active rumors with either player negotiating with other teams, either.

Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes confirmed earlier this week that the new Dodgers pitchers have not altered the team’s interest in Kershaw.

Clayton Kershaw: A Dodger for Life?

This comes nearly three months after Kershaw declared himself as a “Dodger for life” following the team’s championship victory. The 37-year-old pitcher then declined a $10 million player option for 2025.

Spotrac projects Kershaw to be worth a one-year deal at around $7.1 million. Might he have thought he would have generated more interest on the open market?

He only pitched in seven games in 2024, going 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA, 3.53 FIP, 1.500 WHIP, with a 7.2 K/9. While his walk rate remained the same from 2023 to 2024 at 2.7 BB/9, his hit rate was way up, jumping from 6.8 H/9 in 2023 to 10.8 in 2024.

As for Kike, fans in LA want him back, he reportedly wants to come back, and Teoscar Hernandez told Dodgers Territory recently that he’s “praying to God that we (the Dodgers) can bring Kike back.”

Could you picture a Dodgers World Series conquest without Kike Hernandez in 2025?

He was so pivotal to the team’s success in the postseason in 2020 and 2024, even if not so impactful during the regular season on the field. Off the field, his impact in the clubhouse is hands down arguably one of the greatest ever.

Kike Hernandez in the Regular Season in Dodgers World Series Winning Years

• 2020: .230/.270/.410, 0.41 R/G, 0.10 HR/G, 0.41 RBI/G
• 2024: .229/.281/.373, 0.35 R/G, 0.09 HR/G, 0.33 RBI/G

The numbers are eerily similar. Due to the strike-shortened COVID season, it made more sense to break his numbers down per game rather than as a whole.

Let’s see what those numbers in 2020 would have projected to in a season where he matched the 126 games played in 2024.

So in 2024, he scored 44 runs, hit 12 HRs and 42 RBIs.

In 2020, his numbers project to 51 runs, 11 HRs and 51 RBIs. Just for curiosity’s sake.

Kike Hernandez in the Postseason in Dodgers World Series Winning Years

• 2020: .214/.290/.464, 0.17 R/G, 0.11 HR/G, 0.81 RBI/G
• 2024: .294/.357/.451, 0.78 R/G, 0.14 HR/G, 0.42 RBI/G

While the numbers aren’t going to scream out superstar at you, it’s the impact Kike brings in a situation against a left-handed pitcher, or to ignite a struggling offense that merits his return to the Dodgers in 2025.

If that’s still not good enough for you, how about the fact that he was “considerate enough” to vet out whether his interview was on live TV, before telling the world (literally) that the Dodgers “don’t give a f—“.

He forgot to consider that there’s no cough button to bleep his words out on live TV.

Kike, 33, made $4 million last season and is projected to have a market value of $2.8 million entering 2025.

Your Turn: So we’ve found out that the Dodgers will likely have two roster openings jumping into Spring Training. Will those two spots be for Kike Hernandez and Clayton Kershaw? Tell us why in the comments, fans!