Kershaw has shoulder surgery, hopes to return next summer

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw had left shoulder surgery Friday and anticipates being sidelined until next summer.

The 35-year-old in a social media post wrote the surgery with Dodgers head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache was to repair the glenohumeral ligaments and his shoulder capsule. There are three glenohumeral ligaments and they reinforce the joint capsule.

“I am hopeful to return to play at some point next summer,” he wrote. “Thanks for your prayers!”

Kershaw was sidelined for six weeks by the shoulder injury and it hampered him over the final couple months. Neither he nor the team ever said much about his shoulder during the season.

He didn’t pitch more than 5.1 innings after coming off the injured list in August. Then he got hit hard by Arizona in the playoffs.

Kershaw is a free agent for the third year in a row. Andrew Friedman, Dodgers president of baseball operations, said the team “absolutely” wants the three-time Cy Young Award winner back.

“The ball is squarely in their court,” Friedman said, referring to Kershaw and his wife, Ellen.

Soler opts out

Outfielder Jorge Soler opted out of the final year of his contract with the Miami Marlins to become a free agent, giving up a $13 million salary for 2024.

The 31-year-old Cuban agreed before the 2022 season to a three-year contract guaranteeing $36 million. Soler hit .269 with 36 homers and 75 RBIs this year, becoming a first-time All-Star.

Bellinger declines $25M option

Chicago Cubs slugger Cody Bellinger declined his end of a $25 million mutual option for 2024 as expected and will test the free-agent market coming off a bounce-back season.

The 2019 NL MVP, Bellinger is in line for a huge payday after hitting .307 with 26 homers and 97 RBIs.