Headlines

  • Tucker Barnhart To Retire
  • Tyler Mahle To Be Sidelined Beyond Trade Deadline
  • Astros Place Jeremy Peña On Injured List With Fractured Rib
  • Reds Release Jeimer Candelario
  • Dave Parker Passes Away
  • Griffin Canning Diagnosed With Ruptured Achilles
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Dodgers Nearing Extension With Clayton Kershaw

By Steve Adams | November 2, 2018 at 2:00pm CDT

2:37pm: The sides have discussed  new contract that would add just one more guaranteed season, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter). It is believed that the total guarantee would stay under nine figures, though Rosenthal cautions the “final terms might be different.”

If that turns out to be the case, it seems the sides would be more or less adding another season at the same average annual value that Kershaw has been playing on under his prior extension. Of course, it’s also quite possible that there are other provisions under discussion.

1:30pm: The Dodgers and left-hander Clayton Kershaw are nearing an extension that’ll keep him in Los Angeles, reports Yahoo’s Jeff Passan (on Twitter). Passan notes that the deal is said to be “very close.” Kershaw had an opt-out clause that allowed him to forgo the remaining two years and $65MM on his contract and had until 4pm ET today to make a decision on that clause.

There’s been speculation for quite some time that rather than opt out of the contract, Kershaw would push for an additional couple of years to be added onto the contract. That, it seems, may very well come to be. Reports have indicated all along that the Dodgers hoped to keep the future Hall of Famer.

While Kershaw’s durability has come into question in recent seasons due to a string of back injuries, there was never reason to believe that he’d forgo the opt-out clause. It’s true that those back issues have sent him to the DL in three consecutive seasons, but he’s nonetheless remained among the game’s most talented arms when on the mound. Furthermore, Kershaw has averaged 25 starts and 162 innings per season over the past three years (191 innings per season when factoring in the playoffs), so it’s not as if he’s missed half a season on a regular basis.

The 30-year-old has notched a ridiculous 2.26 ERA since 2016, and although this past year’s 2.73 ERA wasn’t up to par for a player with his credentials, it’s nonetheless a brilliant mark that was accompanied by an even more impressive 155-to-29 K/BB ratio in 161 1/3 innings. If this “diminished” Kershaw is what the Dodgers can realistically expect for the foreseeable future, then they’d still be signing up for a top-tier arm to lead their rotation. It seems plausible that he might take a hit in terms of average annual value in exchange for tacking on another couple of seasons to the deal, but that’d be a worthwhile trade-off for locking in another two-plus seasons of guaranteed pay.

Share 0 Retweet 6 Send via email0

Los Angeles Dodgers Newsstand Clayton Kershaw

Angels To Name Jeremy Reed Hitting Coach
Main
Yankees Claim Hanser Alberto From Rangers
View Comments (52)
Post a Comment

52 Comments

  1. xabial

    7 years ago

    One of my fave pitchers. Glad he gets to stay with one team his whole career. Criticize his postseason, but you’d all be ecstatic if announced your team added Kershaw to pitching staff. Special talent, that deserves more respect

    6
    Reply
    • ffjsisk

      7 years ago

      Lol, deserves more respect? Seriously?

      1
      Reply
      • jdgoat

        7 years ago

        Well everybody thinks he’s some massive choker even though he’s had like three bad postseason games that skew his stats.

        Reply
        • baines03

          7 years ago

          Three? He’s thrown 152 post season innings.. He’s had 9 games started with game scores under 50. Maybe he’s not some massive choker, but he’s been below average.

          5
          Reply
        • petfoodfella

          7 years ago

          It’s more than 3 bad games in the post season. Jeez.

          He’s 9-10 w/ a 4.xx ERA in the post season, and a 5.xx in the World Series. It’s more than just one game or two skewing the stats.

          1
          Reply
        • Seven_Costanza

          7 years ago

          I thought wins and losses were irrelevant

          5
          Reply
        • davidcoonce74

          7 years ago

          Clayton Kershaw in the postseason, in his career: 155 IP, 122 Hits allowed, 44 BB, 165 Ks, 1.092 WHIP, The narrative is because we remember the bad starts – or at least the bad outcomes, without mentioning the defense and bullpen letting him down (fun fact – Ryan Madson allowed 5 runs to score while he was pitching in the WS and his ERA in that span was 0.00. ERA is misleading). Kershaw hasn’t been as good in the postseason as he has in the regular season, but he has alternated brilliant postseason starts with a few stinkers – like most pitchers who are, presumably, pitching against the best players in the world might occasionally suck. I think, because the postseason is inherently a small-sample crapshoot and narratives change quickly (see David Price just this season), it’s a better deal for a team to get regular-season Kershaw because getting to the postseason is paramount; after that, anything can happen.

          4
          Reply
    • raffi

      7 years ago

      I agree. Nobody respects Kershaw. Xabial your the best, every comment you make is a farce and you do it to get a raise out of people. Sometime make a comment that you actually believe.

      1
      Reply
      • Joe Kerr

        7 years ago

        Can’t believe I am coming to the defense of Xabial but he never said no one respects Kershaw, just that his talent deserves more credit. It’s actually a valid point.

        2
        Reply
    • MetsYankeesRedSox

      7 years ago

      Yeah def one of the best pitchers of today. HOF material for sure. Often wondered how pitchers of the five man staff era would stand up to those four man staffs of the 1960s and earlier.

      Koufax, Drysdale, Gibson just to name a few. It’s an honor to be able to have watched guys like that, along with guys like Kershaw and Verlander.

      4
      Reply
  2. tonysbrewcrew00

    7 years ago

    Everyone knew this was happening. They just kept pushing it off to get more publicity

    Reply
  3. ericm25

    7 years ago

    it will probably be a 3 yr extension, 3/75

    3
    Reply
    • larry48

      7 years ago

      more like 4 yr 80

      Reply
      • Soxfan912

        7 years ago

        You think hes going to go from 32.5 AAV to 20? Don’t be surprised if it is more like 4/112 being added to his current deal (slightly front-loaded).

        Reply
      • johnrealtime

        7 years ago

        4 years 80 million is basically adding a 2 year 15 million deal onto the current one. Ridiculous

        Reply
  4. fasbal1

    7 years ago

    Getting ready to backup the Brinks truck again

    2
    Reply
  5. old dodger fan

    7 years ago

    This is such good news. Get it done and then sign Ryu.

    5
    Reply
  6. leftcoaster

    7 years ago

    I’d literally beg Clayton to walk away. That $70 million + should be used to obtain players who can take their play to a higher level in the playoffs.

    2
    Reply
    • trendysayings

      7 years ago

      you’re not right

      because you’re left

      10
      Reply
      • SabrinasDaddy

        7 years ago

        Literally chuckled out loud!

        1
        Reply
        • EndinStealth

          7 years ago

          You laugh easily

          Reply
    • Kenleyfornia74

      7 years ago

      Or they could spend 70 million on top of this because they can easily afford it

      5
      Reply
    • Sign all the Cubans

      7 years ago

      Massively idiotic comment.

      2
      Reply
    • adkuchan

      7 years ago

      You have to get to the playoffs to choke in them. Without Clayton, they probably wouldn’t have been there. You see any free agents who are better? I don’t.

      3
      Reply
  7. JJB

    7 years ago

    Bummer… I had my money on the Orioles swooping in and signing him!

    4
    Reply
    • dugdog83

      7 years ago

      They still a team?

      5
      Reply
      • bigjonliljon

        7 years ago

        A minor league team yes

        4
        Reply
        • Seven_Costanza

          7 years ago

          great commentary, sorry oriole fans

          1
          Reply
    • larry48

      7 years ago

      LOL

      3
      Reply
  8. sameichel

    7 years ago

    Haha welcome to the class of idiots Andrew freeman, if you were smart you would have either let him walk or made sure he opted in to his current contract

    Reply
    • sameichel

      7 years ago

      Yeah it makes sense that Clayton will stage but that much money no

      Reply
    • sameichel

      7 years ago

      Instead you wanted to pay him even more something you will probably regret later on

      Reply
    • dugdog83

      7 years ago

      You are spot on.

      Reply
    • Kenleyfornia74

      7 years ago

      Look in the mirror for that club. Kershaw means more to the dodgers than any team and Ken Rosenthal put it best on MLBN this morning. You dont let your franchise player go because you are scared he is getting worse. His ERA was still very good. Y’all acting like it was around 4.00 or something

      2
      Reply
    • jdgoat

      7 years ago

      Calls a guy an idiot, spells his name wrong….

      6
      Reply
  9. heater

    7 years ago

    Good news. Not that anyone ever expected them to part ways!!!

    2
    Reply
  10. goomba444

    7 years ago

    8 years $256 mill

    Reply
    • Padres458

      7 years ago

      Drugs r bad

      Reply
    • xabial

      7 years ago

      More like Trolls r bad

      3
      Reply
    • martras

      7 years ago

      Every fan base other than the Dodgers’ would be ecstatic to see that contract.

      2
      Reply
    • pustule bosey

      7 years ago

      10 years 600 million, 700, 800 bwahaha

      2
      Reply
  11. matt smalling

    7 years ago

    I live in LA & love Clayton Kehrshaw…but is it really possible to live on $256 Million in this town?….not to mention the traffic!

    5
    Reply
  12. Joeypower

    7 years ago

    Kehrswaw made it to the top… he probably stays up there for one or two years. Then he will go down hills…. Go ahead Dodgers and pay
    For his past and not the present. #asktheangels#

    Reply
    • stan lee the manly

      7 years ago

      The Dodgers economic model clearly works. Moves like this don’t hurt them the way they would hurt 90% of the other teams in baseball, the money is not a huge factor for them. Get two more years of great starting pitching, then transition him to the pen when he starts losing long-term effectiveness. Meanwhile, keep raking in the billions and don’t worry that you are paying a great reliever “starter money” for a couple of years.

      It will never make sense to lose a franchise icon just because you don’t want to pay him with a payroll like that. Kershaw deserves the contract.

      Reply
      • johnrealtime

        7 years ago

        I agree with every part of this comment except for where you said transition him to the pen in 2 years. Really hard to imagine that he’ll be so bad in 2 years, at age 32 that you’re better off putting him in the pen

        Reply
        • stan lee the manly

          7 years ago

          I agree with you 100%, but the commenter above was assuming he is over the hill and will start pitching poorly. I was giving a “what if this is true” scenario.

          I think Kershaw will be a very productive starting pitcher through this deal and into his next one

          1
          Reply
  13. smit1957

    7 years ago

    Looked real good during Game 1 and 5 of the World Series. Give him more money.

    Reply
  14. Basebal101

    7 years ago

    CK is in a class of his own and standard contractional rules don’t apply.. I find it funny people posting saying he’s over paid now. His “down” year of a 2.76 ERA would still be better then half of any team’s best starter in MLB. As the face of the franchise it’s nice to see a team taking care of their own for a change.. And don’t be surprised if his numbers are better next year.

    Reply
  15. RunDMC

    7 years ago

    He has an opt-out and all he’ll use that for is 1 more guaranteed year?? He has all the leverage right now and can use it, with some teams flush with cash (and need). I’m not saying leverage it for a contract into his forties, but man, at least get a deal done through age 35.

    Reply
    • wholenewworld

      7 years ago

      Agreed. I wouldn’t have thought any less than two additional years. Something like 4-year $105-110 million total.

      Kershaw wants to stay and the Dodgers are exploiting that.

      Reply
  16. madmanTX

    7 years ago

    One year for $100 million. Might as well.

    Reply
  17. snotrocket

    7 years ago

    3/90. Book it.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Tucker Barnhart To Retire

    Tyler Mahle To Be Sidelined Beyond Trade Deadline

    Astros Place Jeremy Peña On Injured List With Fractured Rib

    Reds Release Jeimer Candelario

    Dave Parker Passes Away

    Griffin Canning Diagnosed With Ruptured Achilles

    Pirates Reportedly Have Very Few Untouchable Players At Trade Deadline

    Griffin Canning Believed To Have Suffered Achilles Injury

    Mariners Looking For Corner Infield Bats; Ownership Willing To Bump Payroll

    Wander Franco Found Guilty Of Sexual Abuse

    Mariners Place Rowdy Tellez On Release Waivers

    Max Meyer To Undergo Season-Ending Hip Surgery

    Whit Merrifield Announces Retirement

    White Sox Sign Noah Syndergaard To Minor League Deal

    Corbin Carroll Placed On IL With Wrist Fracture

    Hoops Rumors Has The Latest On NBA Draft, Free Agency

    Mets Option Francisco Alvarez

    Reds To Promote Chase Burns For MLB Debut

    A.J. Puk Undergoes Elbow Surgery; Gabriel Moreno Diagnosed With Fractured Finger

    Braves To Select Didier Fuentes

    Recent

    Tucker Barnhart To Retire

    Tyler Mahle To Be Sidelined Beyond Trade Deadline

    Orioles Place Zach Eflin On Injured List

    Rockies Expected To Promote Yanquiel Fernandez

    Yankees Select Geoff Hartlieb, Place Fernando Cruz On 15-Day IL

    Trade Deadline Outlook: Chicago White Sox

    Trade Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript

    Padres Designate Logan Gillaspie For Assignment

    Phillies Reinstate Bryce Harper, Designate Buddy Kennedy For Assignment

    Athletics Select Colby Thomas

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version