Clayton & Ellen Kershaw Welcome 4th Child, Chance James Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw, Ellen Kershaw, Dodgers win, 2020 World Series
Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Clayton and Ellen Kershaw announced the birth of their fourth child, Chance James Kershaw. They now are a family of six, with Chance the youngest among siblings Cali, Charley and Cooper.

The couple is presumed to be back in their native Texas, and having a home in Dallas has fueled speculation the longtime Los Angeles Dodgers ace may leave to sign with the Texas Rangers in free agency.

That may be all the more likely now that the couple has four young children. The general consensus this winter has been Kershaw will ultimately decide between re-signing with the Dodgers, joining his hometown Rangers, or retiring.

Kershaw ended the 2021 postseason unable to pitch because of a left flexor tendon strain that had previously sidelined him for more than two months. Despite a flexor injury often being a precursor to Tommy John, Kershaw has maintained there aren’t concerns with his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL).

The 33-year-old received a a platelet-rich plasma injection (PRP) injection prior to the National League Division Series beginning and expressed confidence that along with time off would remedy the issue.

“That’s going to be my treatment,” Kershaw said in October. “I’m going to rest and let it heal. I’m not going to get surgery on it or anything. Everybody I’ve talked to, all the doctors and everything, feel good that I’ll be good to go by Spring Training, so that’s the plan. … I just talked to a lot of people and been on the phone a lot.

“I feel good about it.”

Despite the optimism, Kershaw was not extended a qualifying offer in free agency. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman explained that was a result of the organization not wanting to rush Kershaw into a decision.

Friedman additionally has voiced confidence in the Dodgers’ ability to re-sign the former NL MVP.

Seager recruiting Kershaw

After Corey Seager signed a 10-year, $325 million contract with the Rangers, he admitted to having conversations with Kershaw about remaining teammates with a new cub.

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