LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers held their annual DodgerFest at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, which always means the start of the season is right around the corner.

This time around, it was filled with Shohei Ohtani No. 17 jerseys and the buzz around the newest superstar, and the excitement surrounding the team’s $1 billion winter was palpable.

However, for the first time in over a decade, there was one person missing on the 40-man roster prior to the event: three-time National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw.

Kershaw, who underwent left shoulder surgery this winter, remains a free agent with less than a week remaining before the Dodgers’ pitchers and catchers have their first workout at Camelback Ranch.

The Dodgers, even at this stage in the offseason, won’t ever close the door on bringing back arguably their most successful pitcher in franchise history.

“Yeah, for sure,” said Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes, when asked if Kershaw was still a possibility. “We continue to stay in touch with Clayton, and we’ll progress.”

• Ohtani 'very confident' he'll be ready to DH on Opening Day

As has been the case over the last few winters, Kershaw’s free agent decision will come down to the Dodgers -- the only organization he has ever played for -- or the Rangers, who would allow him to stay at his Dallas-area home year-round.

Up to this point, there hasn’t appeared to be much traction between the Rangers and the left-hander. Kershaw won’t be able to pitch in the Majors until at least August. The Rangers already have a handful of starters who will be sidelined to start the season.

For the Dodgers, adding Kershaw would give them more insurance in a starting rotation that is very talented, but does come into the spring with some question marks. Yoshinobu Yamamoto has never pitched in the Majors and will have to adapt to a new ball, country and big league hitters. Tyler Glasnow has also been bitten by the injury bug throughout his career.

Then there’s Walker Buehler, who won't start the season with the Dodgers as he continues to try to get fully healthy following a second Tommy John surgery, manager Dave Roberts confirmed Saturday. The question for Kershaw is when he wants to make his decision, given he won’t be ready by Opening Day.

It’s widely expected that he’ll make a decision by the start of the season in order to work with a training staff. And while it remains to be seen what he chooses, there is plenty of mutual interest between the Dodgers and the future likely first-ballot Hall of Famer.