Clayton Kershaw retired with three Cy Young Awards during his 18 years with the Dodgers. Patrick Smith / Getty Images
Future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw is a top studio target for NBC/Peacock’s forthcoming Major League Baseball package, sources briefed on the talks told The Athletic.
Kershaw, who retired after the Dodgers’ latest World Series title, would likely work select events if a deal comes to fruition, the sources said. Starting this season, NBC is the new home of “Sunday Night Baseball” and the first round of the MLB playoffs.
Joey Votto is another ex-star that networks are high on this offseason. Netflix will also join as a new presenter this MLB season, but with a more limited schedule featuring Opening Day, the Home Run Derby and the Field of Dreams Game.
On the play-by-play side, Fox’s Jason Benetti is a possibility for NBC/Peacock for its lead game play-by-player, sources briefed on the talks said. Front Office Sports first mentioned the possibility of Benetti returning to NBC, where he previously called baseball.
NBC declined to comment.
Benetti is in the final year of his contract with Fox, so it would have to allow him to leave early to call NBC’s first game, on March 26, which features the Los Angeles Dodgers as they raise their banner and host the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Baltimore Orioles and ESPN TV play-by-player Kevin Brown is another potential candidate, according to sources briefed on discussions. NBC/Peacock will have “Sunday Night Baseball” and “Sunday Morning Baseball.” The morning games will be available only on Peacock, while the nighttime games will be on NBC from the end of the NBA season through the start of the NFL season.
NBC/Peacock may again use local analysts alongside whoever it eventually hires as its play-by-player, though having Kershaw in the booth for a game or two could be intriguing.
Kershaw, 37, retired with three Cy Young Awards during his 18 years with the Dodgers. He finished his career with a 223-96 record with a 2.53 ERA. The Dodgers won three World Series during Kershaw’s career.