Los Angeles Dodgers: Five teams that could snag Clayton Kershaw

1. Texas Rangers

• Current 2019 payroll: $98.5 million

The Texas Rangers probably are not playoff contenders next year and are not in an extremely forgiving payroll situation with the eighth-largest payroll in baseball as it currently stands.

And while the Rangers do not check off the contender box and would be a payroll nightmare next year after signing Kershaw, it is still the team that makes the most sense if Clayton Kershaw decided he no longer wanted to be a Dodger.

The Texas Rangers play where Kershaw calls home.

Growing up in the suburbs of Dallas, Kershaw’s high school is just 23 miles from Globe Life Park in Arlington. Kershaw resides there in the offseason and even held a fantasy football draft at his home when the Dodgers were in town to play the Rangers this season.

I actually think that there was a better chance of Kershaw heading to Arlington if the Dodgers won the World Series this season or last. Kershaw would have accomplished his ultimate goal and could settle down and start a new chapter of his career at home.

Without a ring, it does hurt the Rangers’ chances as the team may not be ready to contend in the near future. Plus, we don’t even know how interested the Rangers are in bringing in Kershaw, although, who wouldn’t be interested?

Kershaw has never pitched at Globe Life Park.

I think this is number one and the rest of the five teams are a distant second in likeliness. I still think the Los Angeles Dodgers have the best chance of signing him, however, any of these five teams could strike.