LOS ANGELES -- Back in Spring Training, when he signed a contract to return to the big leagues for his 18th season, Clayton Kershaw reiterated his desire to retire as a Dodger.

Retirement had crossed the veteran left-hander's mind leading into this year, but after losing much of the prior season to injury, he wanted to go out on his own terms. And there was only one team with whom he wanted to do it.

"I don't think I put enough merit on it at times, what it means to be able to be in one organization for your entire career," Kershaw said earlier this year . "You look at people throughout all of sports that have been able to do that, and it is special, it is. I don't want to lose sight of that. Getting to be here for my whole career, however long that is, is definitely a goal."

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