Dodgers insider’s take on Clayton Kershaw-Rangers possibility is a joke

Look, we know Los Angeles Dodgers fans, supporters, media members — anybody associated with the team, really — want nothing more than for Clayton Kershaw to remain with the team in 2022 and beyond.

But that’s simply far from the reality. The future Hall of Famer is a free agent for the first time in his career and is dealing with a troubling elbow injury that ended his 2021 after only 22 starts. He’s entering his age-34 season and his incumbent Dodgers have lost a lot of talent dating back to after their World Series victory.

There have been rumors Kershaw is considering retirement or that he wants to play closer to his home in Dallas, which would likely result in a pairing with the Texas Rangers … another rumor that made its rounds this offseason.

And then when Corey Seager ended up signing there, he told the media that he contacted Kershaw about joining him on the new-and-improved AL West team. Even before that, MLB insider Jon Heyman revealed the Dodgers’ biggest competition for Kershaw this offseason was going to be the Rangers.

Don’t get us wrong, we do NOT want this to happen, but to assume as if it won’t? Or that Kershaw couldn’t possibly be influenced by a former close teammates of his? That’d be a bit ignorant, wouldn’t you say?

https://twitter.com/JonahJavad/status/1466212729421631489?s=20

Clayton Kershaw leaving the Dodgers for Rangers isn’t a crazy possibility.

But that’s what David Vassegh of 570 AM LA Sports believes. Here’s what he said on his radio show, via Dodgers Nation:

"“Everybody talks about Kershaw and being recruited by Corey Seager. That’s not going to happen. Clayton Kershaw is an independent thinker he’s not going to be swayed by Seager. When you look at the Dodgers and Kershaw, it makes sense for him to come back.”"

So you have to be an “independent thinker” in order not to be convinced of anything from someone you know? And of course it “makes sense” for Kershaw to return to the Dodgers, but there are plenty of factors that would affect that decision. A lot of things make sense. That doesn’t make anything more of a driving force as to why it would happen.

MLB rumors and speculation are very delicate. It’s important to provide ample context with these types of talking points and do as much investigating or dot-connecting as possible. But perhaps most dangerous of all?

Outright ruling things out because you’d prefer not to see them happen.

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