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.
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
Lol, deserves more respect? Seriously?
Well everybody thinks he’s some massive choker even though he’s had like three bad postseason games that skew his stats.
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.
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.
I thought wins and losses were irrelevant
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.
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.
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.
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.
Everyone knew this was happening. They just kept pushing it off to get more publicity
it will probably be a 3 yr extension, 3/75
more like 4 yr 80
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).
4 years 80 million is basically adding a 2 year 15 million deal onto the current one. Ridiculous
Getting ready to backup the Brinks truck again
This is such good news. Get it done and then sign Ryu.
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.
you’re not right
because you’re left
Literally chuckled out loud!
You laugh easily
Or they could spend 70 million on top of this because they can easily afford it
Massively idiotic comment.
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.
Bummer… I had my money on the Orioles swooping in and signing him!
They still a team?
A minor league team yes
great commentary, sorry oriole fans
LOL
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
Yeah it makes sense that Clayton will stage but that much money no
Instead you wanted to pay him even more something you will probably regret later on
You are spot on.
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
Calls a guy an idiot, spells his name wrong….
Good news. Not that anyone ever expected them to part ways!!!
8 years $256 mill
Drugs r bad
More like Trolls r bad
Every fan base other than the Dodgers’ would be ecstatic to see that contract.
10 years 600 million, 700, 800 bwahaha
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!
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#
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.
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
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
Looked real good during Game 1 and 5 of the World Series. Give him more money.
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.
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.
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.
One year for $100 million. Might as well.
3/90. Book it.