CARY, N.C. (AP) \u2014 Clayton Kershaw isn\u2019t done pitching just yet, agreeing Thursday to join the U.S. team for this year\u2019s World Baseball Classic.<\/p>\n
The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner wanted to pitch for the Americans in the 2023 tournament but was prevented because of insurance issues<\/a>. He had a $20 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cI was too broken for the insurance to cover my arm and everything,\u201d Kershaw said on MLB Network, \u201cso now that it doesn\u2019t matter I get to go and be a part of this group.\u201d<\/p>\n A left-hander who turns 38 two days after the March 17 championship game, Kershaw announced last September that he was retiring at the end of the season<\/a>, his 18th in a stellar career for the Dodgers. He won his third World Series title and finished 223-96 with a 2.53 ERA and 3,052 strikeouts.<\/p>\n \u201cI just want to be the insurance policy,\u201d Kershaw said. \u201cIf anybody needs a breather or if they need me to pitch back-to-back-to-back or if they don\u2019t need me to pitch at all, I\u2019m just there to be there. I just want to be a part of this group.\u201d<\/p>\n Later Thursday, new Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman announced he will join the U.S. team.<\/p>\n When Kershaw received a call from U.S. manager Mark DeRosa, he thought he was being invited as a coach.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t have a whole lot of interest in picking up a baseball again,\u201d Kershaw said. \u201cI started throwing 10, 12 days ago and it doesn\u2019t feel terrible, so I think I\u2019ll be OK.\u201d<\/p>\n Kershaw joins a U.S. pitching staff that includes right-handers David Bednar, Clay Holmes, Griffin Jax, Nolan McLean, Mason Miller, Joe Ryan, Paul Skenes and Logan Webb along with left-handers Tarik Skubal<\/a> and Gabe Speier.<\/p>\n The American roster also includes catchers Cal Raleigh<\/a> and Will Smith; infielders Ernie Clement, Gunnar Henderson, Brice Turang and Bobby Witt Jr.; outfielders Byron Buxton, Corbin Carroll, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Aaron Judge<\/a>; and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.<\/p>\n The U.S., which lost the 2023 championship game to Japan, opens March 6 against Brazil at Houston, part of a group that also includes Britain, Italy and Mexico.<\/p>\n Shohei Ohtani struck out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to end Japan\u2019s 3-2 win in the 2023 championship. Kershaw doesn\u2019t anticipate facing Ohtani, his teammate for the Dodgers\u2019 World Series titles in 2024 and 2025.<\/p>\n \u201cI think something will have gone terribly wrong if I have to pitch against team Japan in the finals or something. I think we got plenty of guys to get that guy out and not me,\u201d Kershaw said. \u201cBut if that happens, I\u2019ll be nervous. I\u2019ll be nervous at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n