Clayton Kershaw could be back at Dodger Stadium as early as Opening Day

Dodgers fans sort of expected Clayton Kershaw to enjoy a quiet retirement for a while, but he's barely taking a break at all. He confirmed in mid-January that he'll be suiting up for Team USA in March's World Baseball Classic, just a week after reports leaked that NBC is eyeing him for a commentator role as part of their new Sunday Night Baseball coverage.

Latest reports suggest that Kershaw and the network are getting very close to a deal. If it works out, Kershaw will find himself back at Dodger Stadium as soon as Opening Day, but from a very different vantage point.

NBC's slate includes four marquee Dodgers matchups, including their March 26 Opening Day/home opener against the Diamondbacks. Hiring Kershaw to work that game, providing insight into not only probable starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto and his former Dodgers team but a division rival he's very familiar with is a stroke of genius on NBC's part.

And we'd venture to guess that they'll be paying him handsomely for his services.

Clayton Kershaw nearing a deal with NBC could have him calling Dodgers' Opening Day

NBC also has Pirates-Mets Opening Day on March 26 — Paul Skenes vs. the self-appointed "east coast Dodgers." From there, they take over ESPN's former slate with a primetime matchup every Sunday. The Dodgers will be on NBC or Peacock on July 5 against the Padres as part of their Fourth of July weekend slate, July 19 against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, and Aug. 2 against the Red Sox at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers, Padres, and Red Sox are the only teams who will be featured up to four times.

Kershaw typically comes across as a reserved guy, but Dodgers fans know that he's witty, self-deprecating, and charmingly foul-mouthed (see: everything he said during All-Star festivities last year), and there's no doubting how much insight he'll be able to bring to the broadcast.

There are plenty of people who Kershaw can call up for some pointers, too. Joe Davis, fellow former Dodger Orel Hershiser... let's just hope he doesn't take any advice from John Smoltz.