Feb. 13: The Dodgers made it official today, announcing that they have signed Kershaw. Right-hander River Ryan, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, was transferred to the 60-day IL in a corresponding move.
Kershaw is guaranteed $7.5MM on a one-year deal, reports Robert Murray of FanSided. He’ll unlock a $1MM bonus for making his 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th starts of the season. The deal also contains active roster bonuses; he’ll add an additional $2.5MM for 30 days on the active roster, $1MM for 60 days and $1MM for 90 days.
In all, that $7.5MM base can more than double to $16MM so long as Kershaw starts at least 16 games and stays healthy for about half the season.
Feb. 11: The Dodgers and left-hander Clayton Kershaw have agreed to terms on a new deal, reports Alden González of ESPN. It was previously relayed by Dylan Hernández of the Los Angeles Times that the lefty is in camp with the club. The deal isn’t official yet because the Excel Sports Management client still has to undergo a physical. The details of the new agreement aren’t yet publicly known. The Dodgers will need to open a 40-man spot but have several candidates to be moved to the 60-day injured list.
The move doesn’t come as a surprise at all. The future Hall-of-Famer has spent his entire career with the Dodgers to this point. He has gone into free agency multiple times and always re-signed. There has occasionally been some thought that he would like to join the Rangers, since he’s from the Dallas area, but that’s never come to fruition. On the heels of the Dodgers winning the most recent World Series, he declared himself a “Dodger for life.”
Kershaw, 37 in March, did turn down a $10MM player option for the 2025 season. Still, that seemed to be more of a formality, based on the strong relationship between him and the franchise. Even though he walked away from that money, the industry expectation has been that the two sides would reunite on some kind of new deal. As recently has a few weeks ago, it was reported that the two sides were interested in a reunion.
His current health situation is unknown. In early November, when he made the “Dodger for life” comment, Kershaw also relayed some details of upcoming surgeries. He told reporters at that time that he was to have work done on both his left toe and his left knee. He had dealt with bone spurs in his big toe during the season and also revealed after the campaign that he had a torn meniscus and a ruptured plantar plate that needed to be addressed.
It’s possible that his new deal will come with various incentives based on his output, as was the case the last time he re-signed with the Dodgers. He had surgery going into last winter and wasn’t expected to come back until midway through the 2024 schedule. He signed a deal with a modest $10MM guarantee over 2024 and 2025, with the latter year being a player option. Based on his 2024 appearances, he could earn an extra $7.5MM in 2024, as well as potentially bumping the $5MM option as high as $20MM. There were also incentives based on his 2025 appearances that could have allowed him to earn as much as $25MM on the year.
Kershaw only ended up throwing 30 innings over seven starts last year, allowing 4.50 earned runs per nine. He started the season on the IL while still recovering from that shoulder surgery, getting reinstated in late July. But he was back on the IL by the end of August due to his toe issues and finished the season there. That wasn’t a huge showing but it was enough to get the base of his player option up to $10MM. Though he went back under the knife for his lower body injuries, he still felt comfortable enough turning that down, though he and the club will surely figure out some new arrangement that works for both.
Though it’s not a surprise to see Kershaw back with the club, there’s still some mystery about what’s next. As mentioned, it’s unclear if he’s fully healthy now or if he’s still working his way back from his most recent procedure.
On paper, the Dodgers have a robust collection of rotation options. They currently have Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki and Tyler Glasnow taking up four spots. Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May should be in the mix as well. Shohei Ohtani isn’t expected to be ready by Opening Day but could be back on the hill in May.
The club seems likely to run a six-man rotation. That’s partially due to Sasaki making the move from Japan, where starting pitchers only throw once a week. On top of that, basically everyone else in their pile of starters has workload concerns. Snell only got to 104 innings last year and has only twice gone beyond 130. Yamamoto spent a decent chunk of 2024 on the IL and only got to 90 frames. Glasnow got to 134, which was a career high for him. May, Gonsolin and Ohtani were recovering from respective surgeries, with no one of that trio pitching last year.
Throw Kershaw into the mix and its eight starters for six spots, before even mentioning pitchers like Bobby Miller, Landon Knack, Nick Frasso, Justin Wrobleski and Ben Casparius, who all have options and are likely to be in the minors as depth.
Given all the health question marks throughout the group, it’s unlikely to expect everyone to be healthy for the entire season, but there may be times where players get squeezed. Moving to the bullpen isn’t easy either, as the club is a bit squeezed there as well. With a six-man rotation, the club can only have seven relievers, given the 13-pitcher roster limit. Ohtani counts as a two-way player and will eventually allow them to have 14 pitchers, but he won’t be pitching to start the year.
The bullpen chart currently includes Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Anthony Banda and Alex Vesia. No one in that group can be optioned except for Vesia, who had a 1.76 ERA last year. The bullpen is tight enough that Ryan Brasier recently got designated for assignment and flipped to the Cubs.
Time will tell how the Dodgers balance the juggling act, though the pressure on the 40-man roster is about to ease. Now that they have opened camp, they are allowed to transfer players to the 60-day injured list. Each of Emmet Sheehan, Brusdar Graterol, Kyle Hurt and River Ryan are likely bound for the IL soon, with each recovering from a significant surgery. The Dodgers will need a roster spot for Kershaw once this becomes official, but that will still leave them with three roster spots to play with.
Financially, RosterResource has the Dodgers at a $383MM payroll and $386MM competitive balance tax figure. Those are both franchise records and tops in the league by wide margins, but the club seems to have few limits right now. They have international star power from Ohtani and various other players on the roster, with a decade-plus run of postseason appearances, in addition to being reigning world champions. The cash flow situation seems to be incredibly healthy, with the ownership group willing to pump a lot of that money back into the roster.
Yup. Never a doubt.
Continuing to ruin.
@Bucket HoF’s spending their entire career with one team is ruining the game? Give me a break.
That’s not what he meant he was probably talking about the Dodgers half a billion dollar payroll and over a Billion in deferrals.
LAD are actually one of the best things for baseball/MLB in the last decade or so since fans were granted mercy from the McCourt shenanigans.
When the major media markets have subpar teams, MLB popularity declines.
We’ll see how the new ABS goes this year. Dependent on that, LAD may be the best thing for MLB in ’25.
I know this is BS to hear if you’re a small market fan. But hey, there’s Bobby Witt, the young core in Baltimore, and in Pittsburgh…..you have the Steelers!
Paul Skenes is going to throw a baseball through a tv and into your face for that
“in Pittsburgh….you have the Steelers”…..that statement doesn’t have the same value as it used to.
Theory proven: Leaving a purposely vague comment in a Dodgers thread will lead to wild tangent replies.
I don’t hate on the Dodgers for what they’ve done they’re simply playing the system. I’m definitely all for them signing a franchise icon like Kershaw should be a no brainer for any organization. It’s the system that needs fixing not the Dodgers.
stoopid statements get u muted. Bye.
I expected this when I saw him at the Taco Bell Cantina in downtown Phoenix the other day. He ordered 7 cantina chicken tacos and a large vodka baja blast freeze
Deferred bag of peanuts
This is one of the best deferral jokes I’ve seen. (I don’t hate the genre, but a lot of them aren’t terribly clever.)
Cheat code unlocked. Game Genie, if you know, you know.
Now to all the rest of the players in MLB. If the Dodgers passed up on you, aren’t you slightly offended?
The Dodgers didn’t think you were good enough to meet their criteria.
Then again the Dodgers have about 60 DL spots, so inevitably the Dodgers will sign half the league.
CRY!
I am, bemoaning the sad state of baseball.
sad state of padres baseball, yes.
Sad state of the league media . DSG dropping the teams then having to scramble to make a few million hurtt teams financially.
And I’m supposed to be insulted by that as a Padres fan?
Truth is truth. It is a sad state for Padres baseball.
When you have a Padres ownership group with Dodger ties, you will not get a fair shake.
The Padres aren’t even fortunate to have true ownership of their own.
Ron Fowler and Peter Seidler, you are greatly missed.
This current group simply views the Padres as their own personal piggy bank.
@tow
It’s not an insult. Simply the current state of affairs. But all you ever do is post whining, negative, moaning posts to which we can now add half-baked crankpot conspiracy theories. You’d have us believe that the Padres ownership is somehow working against the Padres to the betterment of the Dodgers? Are you really that dumb?
I guess I meant “crackpot.” Do forgive me.
Dodgers have endless cash and they are spending it . Players don’t care owners don’t care. But fans can be disappointed that their team can’t compete with that.
Resorting to disparaging one’s intelligence is rather juvenile.
The way this offseason has played out for the Padres has left little to cheer for.
The “whining” is not without merit.
You win the meritorious whining award.
Juvenile? Thinking the Pads owners are in bed with the Dodgers is juvenile.
Life as a Padres fan has made you bitter.
@tow
Welcome to the Dodger McCourt years when no one cared about the Dodgers except their fans.
You, as a Dodger’s fan, defending Padres ownership.
What a time to be alive.
Crankpot may be a thing too, though we may be better off not knowing. I’ll just say Gillian was the one pedaling-as usual.
Pardon the tangent, just trying to add to Bucket#6 ‘s data set.
Gilligan*
I’m not defending Padres ownership. I am defending sanity, of which you seem be a tad short.
Wait, so you’re not defending Padres ownership but then you’re critical of me being critical of Padres ownership.
Make that make sense.
Just to be clear. I am criticizing Padres ownership for its refusal to spend.
@ tow.
What you said was:
“When you have a Padres ownership group with Dodger ties, you will not get a fair shake.”
Don’t put words in my mouth.
I never said Padres ownership is any good. They are in obvious disarray and not serving their fans or the team. I criticized your crazy take that part of the problem seems to be their former ties to the Dodgers. That is simply nuts.
So you do admit to the Padres ownership not acting in the best interests of it fans.
The Dodgers ownership sure is acting in the best interest of its fans.
And you yourself said Padres baseball was in a sad state.
So if Padres baseball is in a “sad state”, who is responsible for that “state”?
You would, agree that the Dodgers ownership is responsible, as it signs the checks, for the current state the Dodgers are in.
So, the Padres ownership signs the checks, and has done little in the offseason in adding payroll. You would agree that in fact, the Padres ownership is responsible for the “sad state” it is in at the moment.
Right?
Ok, than we can both agree that the Padres ownership is responsible for its current sad state.
of course. I never said otherwise.
Padre fan.
Dang I even had one for my dot matrix original 1988 gameboy. Game genie that is
Gotta love these articles that always have to introduce some doubt. At some point, good sense dictates admitting that rumors intimating any possibility that Kershaw ever was going to be anything but a Dodger for life were just plain wrong. And it wasn’t about what he said this past November; it’s what he’s said and done for his entire career. It’s called paying attention, people!
Off topic and random, but in 2013, 2014 & 2015 he allowed exactly a .521 OPS to his opponents.
Career 2.50 era… such a stud!
In 2023, just one season away, the Dodger pitcher with the most wins, IP, strikeouts,and lowest ERA was ………….Clayton Kershaw.
@Buckwheat Kershaw’s career BABIP was the perfect benchmark to point to in the matter of Sean Manaea’s .191 BABIP over his last 10 reg season starts being completely unsustainable.
If the best Kersh could do was a career mark of .274, Manaea’s .191 was lottery-winning luck.
Why the Mets paid 3/75m for a very average albeit durable starter is something of a mystery.
How’s Kershaw’s prognosis from the meniscus and plantar plate surgeries on his big toe?
he says he feels great. no real medical reports otherwise yet.
did not see that coming! lol
anything less than 162-0 and a WS title will be a failed season in LA.
Not winning the World Series should be considered a failed season by every team! Otherwise what’s the point.
That is such a weird way to be a sports fan (or an athlete).
Not for the Marlins.
AKA 2023-24 Mets!
What a rumor!
Snell, Yamamoto, Glasnow, Ohtani, Sasaki, Gonsolin, May, Sheehan, Miller, Stone… Where does this put Kershaw? In an expanded rotation or a relief role?
Stone is out for the year. Sheehan is out until at least May or June. Miller will be in AAA. And nothing says Kersh won’t be on the IL to start the season. But I take your point. The staff is full up.
Exactly. The real pressure point is May and Gonsolin. One of them probably doesn’t have either a starting or bullpen spot, at least after the first month of the season. It wouldn’t be shocking if one of them was traded before the end of camp.
I think that is the play.
I expect Kershaw will remain on the 60-day DL until a rotation slot opens because of season-ending injury. They traded Paxton last season and then ran out of starters later. I don’t think they will repeat trading a starter this season.
If memory serves Paxton didn’t make it through the rest of the season.
Your memory serves you well. Paxton made a grand total of three starts for Boston, the last one on August 11. The Dodgers guessed the sell-by date on him pretty perfectly.
In five years every team will have a 6 man rotation. It will lower cost on owners.
bjhass — Explain “lower cost on owners” please.
I would not be surprised that in a decade or so, teams don’t have “starting pitchers” any more. Instead, they have twelve guys who pitch three innings each, rarely do they go beyond three.. Pitch every four days, periodic break on the injured list for “arm fatigue” would be normal every season. Every pitcher gets about a hundred innings per season. The thirteen guy won’t be a closer, but an old fashion “fireman” brought in whenever one of the three-inning guys failed. Yawn.
Skep, IMO No chance this happens. Every time a pitcher makes an appearance, add an inning of bullpen prep. You would need a staff of 16-17 durable guys with stamina to make this work.
I’d imagine a six man rotation of whoever is healthy. Probably Snell, Yamamoto, Glasnow, Sasaki, Kershaw, and May/Gonsolin to start the season while Shoehei rehabs and ramps up. Will certainly be a luxury to have May and Gonsolin in the pen
13 is max number of pitchers once the season starts (apart from Tokyo).
Snell, Yoshi, Glas, Sasaki, May, Gonsolin, Banda, Vesia, Phillips, Treinen, Kopech, Yates, Scott. That is 13.
So…if Kershaw is not on IL (A) I will be surprised or (B) Someone else has to go.
You really think all those 13 will be healthy at the same time? Spring training will sort out the 13. I dont think anyone will “have to go”
sure. by “has to go” I meant by any means necessary: trade, IL, minors…I should have been more specific
May’s hits FA after this season. If someone is getting traded that might be an important factor. But someone is going to be dinged or tweak something so a trade seems less likely to me.
I’m guessing it will be Grove over Phillips, at least to start the season.
Phillips is going on the IL
Which means he won’t be on the roster.
3000 Ks before 60 day IL?
Postseason: HR allowed before K?
Gonsolin, May and Miller can be optioned, Sheehan and Stone are recovering from TJS, and 60 day IL bound. Ohtani might not open the season in the rotation, I’m sure the Dodgers have plans to limit his, and every other guy in the rotation’s innings, so they’re ready in October.
D. May is out of options. He has 5-plus service years.
“Out of options..5-plus service years”…Isn’t Dustin May eligible to be granted an extra option year?
Perhaps, but current FanGraphs say n/a under his options.
In addition, MLBTR said in a chat that Gonsolin will hit the requisite service time early in the season. I think that means he could be optioned to start the season but once he’s called up that’s it.
Looks like I was wrong about Gonsolin too, sort of. With 15 more days of service time, he won’t be able to be sent down without his consent.
I thought Stone had surgery done on the shoulder.
He did. Stone’s shoulder surgery is expected to keep him out for all of 2025.
They are going to trade May for Arenado
they are not trading for Arenado
I’d be glad if they found a team for May. The carrot top afro is too much for me,
good thing you’re not shallow…this guy’s shoes, that guy’s hair…
They’re Clowns,
May, KikE, Verdugo, Chisholm to name a few.
Says the guy with one of the biggest clowns of all time as his profile pic lmao
@HopefulTwinsFan The Dodgers used 17 pitchers to start games in the 2024 regular season. There should be plenty of opportunities to start, or to pitch following an Opener. If Kershaw’s healthy as of OD they’ll be glad to bump someone and send him out there for however many weeks he can take the mound.
I don’t doubt he’ll play the IL game as needed.
They will always have 2 or 3 starters on the IL at all times. There will definitely be room for all those pitchers
The idea that 5 better pitchers than Kershaw will all be healthy at the same time that Kershaw’s healthy seems…. WILDLY optimistic.
Doesn’t Kershaw have the guts to pitch for his hometown team in Texas? Or would he rather coast on a superstar team?
“Rather coast on a superstar team”
..You mean the only team he’s ever played for?
Dumb comment. Drafted by the Dodgers and has played his whole career there. The guy isn’t ring chasing.
Heck, why not? They’ve signed everybody else.
You mean cement his legacy as a single team HOFer? lol Dude WHY would he pitch for Texas? That makes no sense outside of a weird blog rumor from a guy with 69 subscribers.
“From a guy with 69 subscribers”…When the internet says something, it has a long shelf life even when it’s never been true.
I tried to make a little joke about the always wrong predictions about him signing with Texas, but it turns out to not be much of a joke, since so many still seem to hang onto this never was going to happen idea.
He’s what started the superstar team. He literally the only one that would get a pass on ever having that linked to his name.
He’s sticking with the same team his whole career. That’s typically the type of move praised across the board in every other sport but since he’s not playing for his hometown, he doesn’t have guts? Explain that to me.
You might as well ask about how the earth can be flat.
He has the guts to, but also has the sense NOT to. If TEX really wanted him, they would have made him a can’t refuse offer, there’s been no rumors or talk if that at all. They already have a younger DeGrom to fill the role of oft-injured starter, you think they want a 37 y/o now injury prone pitcher to take up a roster spot and $$$$?
So you’re suggesting the Rangers should have threatened his family?
You mean he isn’t signing with Texas?
“They’ll trade him there at the deadline.” – that Rangers guy
Serious question: He’s behind schedule but is he 60-day IL behind schedule to start the season?
Dunno. We’re going to find out soon enough. The fact that they signed him at the opening of camp suggests he has at least a chance of being ready before 60 days.
point of order…60-day IL clocks start on opening day of regular season, though the clubs can put a player on that list any time during spring training.
@Bivouac-Sal I’m acutely aware of that. I wonder if the plan is to allow Kershaw to take his time prepping and use his roster spot to start the season. @BlueSkies_LA noted that the timing of his signing may suggest otherwise. I haven’t followed Kershaw’s progression after recent surgery.
reporting is Kersh will be on the IL for a while yet. Dodger Blue site says he’s headed for the 60-day.
You said the other day that I never say anything positive. Here is your positive comment. Kershaw is the best pitcher of our generation and I’m glad he’s a Dodger for life and they are taking care of him.
here here
metsin4 forgot to log out and some random person with sense is posting on his id….
glad to see you changed your handle
I thought I’d heard/read that he wouldn’t be ready until June or so? I think his signing now is just to allow him to be in camp and rehab under/with the team’s personnel. Otherwise he’d have to be out on his own training and rehabbing.
Signing him now keeps his smile in the dugout. That’s enough.
Not trying to be contrarian. They can circumvent rules preventing him from using team resources and facilities by singing him to a minor league split contract.
I don’t remember seeing anything more than speculation on the timing of his availability. Just based on him not having pitched in games for so long it’s fair to guess he won’t be ready on Opening Day, but maybe a month or so after.
It’s all speculation, but this from today’s Dodger Blue:
“Due to the injuries he battled through, Kershaw went 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA, 3.53 FIP and 1.50 WHIP in 30 innings pitched this year. It was the first time since his rookie season in 2008 that he posted an ERA above 4.00.
He is not expected to pitch until later in the season, so he is likely to end up on the 60-day IL as well.”
dodgerblue.com/dodgers-rumors-clayton-kershaw-re-s…
Those fan sites are just click factories. I don’t pay them any attention.
I’ll keep you informed.
We already have Eovaldi.
Careful, amjr won’t like it.
“Dodgers are a joke”…That’s World Series Champion “joke” to you, sir.
You CAN gave too much starting pitching
“Too much starting pitching”…Only if you run out of roster spots.
Say that again on Opening Day when three Dodgers starters have survived Spring Training.
6 years/210 million sounds about right.
Welcome home GOAT!
Love this coming from DarrenDreifortsContract.
These is the least joke move they made outside of Kike lol Get a grip, son.
Tmrw they will sign Alex Bregman, Nick Pivetta, Justin Turner, JD Martinez, Kyle Gibson and David Robertson! All money will be deferred until 2052
yanks – So you’re saying the Dodgers can’t afford Adam Duvall? Maybe they finally maxed out their line of credit?
The Yankees’ 2024 championship was also deferred.
I think they’d sign Puig before Bregman.
Bregman will never be a Dodger.
I’ll take JT though. love that dude.
Let’s go!! he may be old but is an integral part of the Dodgers organization and a great person
This is 100% the wholesome type of comments that this site needs every once in awhile. Perfectly balanced as all things should be.
Integral… at what… giving back rubs???
He’s guaranteed a spot in the Hall of Fame and has won three Cy Youngs. What have you accomplished lately?
Ouch.
Ah yes a joke franchise with a nearly 20 year legend hall of famer. They should strive to be more like the Rockies
Dodgers highlight what’s wrong with baseball. Way too much spending and way too many strikeouts.
Fake fans like you are everything that’s wrong about baseball. The Dodgers are World Series champions and soon-to-be dynasties. They offer 75% of what every other team provides and the players still sign because they want to play for the best. Stay mad.
“Fake fans..stay mad”…Some people are just generally unhappy in life and will complain whether their team wins or doesn’t win.
They’ll complain whether their team “spends” or “doesn’t spend.” They’ll complain whether their team competes yearly for championships or whether their team is in perpetual rebuild status.
Is it any wonder why many teams and their billionaire owners seem to just ignore and really don’t care what most fans think?
not sigma
Like I said balanced…. You definitely have the yin and yang thing down.
What’s wrong with baseball is Princess Yuki.
There’s never anything wrong with Princess Yuki!
(The real one. Well, the real Kurosawa one.)
anime brainrot.
They don’t strikeout a lot lmao. The team puts the ball in play and moves runners over when they have to. I guess you missed the two World Series winning runs coming off a sac fly
Dodgers ranked 19th in strikeouts last year so what are you talking about? Mets spent more and struck out more, are they what’s wrong with baseball too? Are you just sad that the offseason wasn’t what you hoped for your team. I hope you’re doing ok.
“Way too much spending”..And next week, you’ll be complaining about some team’s “lack of spending”. Am I right?
jeez Princess, the Dodgers were 15th in strikeouts in 2024 with 1366, right around the league average, Yankees with behind them. Mariners were the worst with >1600.
you are trying to sense to her? that makes no sense.
In other news the dodgers will be wearing blue this season.
Deferrals have 17 SPs, 19 RPs and 67 man roster now
The LA Deferrals hahahaha
“LA Deferrals”…Success is the greatest greatest revenge. Oh wait, your still living in your parent’s basement. Never mind.
Deferrals are awesome. Get to build a super team. Sorry not sorry the other teams’ FOs dint have the smarts to do it like the Dodgers….
Dodgers FO playing chess, the rest of MLB FO’s playing tiddlywinks…
This dude is so soft, no backbone.
People criticize players for “ring chasing” toward the end of their careers and call those types of moves “soft” as well. So is sticking with one team your whole career soft too? What should he do instead? He’s been a dodger his whole career and is one of the best pitchers of all time. He’s a free agent and can go anywhere he wants, he wants to be a dodger for life.
@mkeving Agreed, though it’s odd after pitching 30 innings of weak performance in 2024 that he walked away from a $10m player option–when he knew only one team would be in on the bidding.
Handshake agreement of some kind?
I think it was likely a move that allowed the Dodgers to have more roster flexibility in the offseason. He didn’t want to take a 40 man spot when he’d be able to be signed and moved to the 60 Day IL. Gave Kershaw the opportunity to rehab more on his timeline and gave the dodgers that flexibility.
For sure an agreement of some kind but nothing that would be in violation of any rules at all.
Off-season officially complete
Owning a sports team isn’t about being fair and equal spending. It’s about putting the best team together at any cost. If fans don’t come to the games, then the product you have on the field is not up to par. Change the narrative and change the trajectory.
W fan
In baseball, yes. Not “sports”. Not football, basketball or hockey. The Dodgers are not doing anything illegal. But let’s be intellectually honest please.
The Dodgers are improving the quality of the sport. As an overall sports fan, I am proud
The Dodgers have announced they’re signing all available free agents.
Maybe the Reds should start signing some of them before the Dodgers do.
Good for Kershaw. It feels weird to see him anywhere but LA.
Deferral dogs on sale now!!
once again, the cheap owners’ cry poor mentality is infecting the comments section.
“Cheap owners’ cry poor mentality”..I think you missed your freeway exit. This is the LA Dodger’s exit and clearly, you’re looking for the Oakland A’s turnoff.
mlb fan i am talking about the commenters who are complaining about the dodgers spending money
Hey, dont dis the A’s, they’ve signed some impressive deals this winter. Maybe you’re thinking of the SD exit…
Then they’re casuals that just know the name Kershaw. In reality, he’s basically worthless now. Constantly hurt and putting up 4.50 era’s it said. I didn’t know he was that bad. I thought he was just a fragile old geezer (in pro athlete years), but still effective when healthy at least. I was wrong apparently.
And you’re still wrong. He wasnt healthy last season thus the two surgeries. You have never even sniffed his worth in your best dreams.
99% of us never will. That’s not the put down you think it is. And like I said….fragile
Hopefully, his farewell year.
Is his contract $1 this year and the rest over 10 years?
And the principal needed to accrue to total paid out would have to be funded this year. So it’s not the savings you re alluding to, it’s just beyond beyond your comprehension.
There are is nothing malicious or deceptive about deferalls. Some fans being financially ignorant has no bearing on MLB or it’s finances.
Nada! Your comment is a joke!
Kershaw gets unfair reputation as being bad in playoffs
His last postseason in 2023 his era was only 162.00
He’s bad in general nowadays. A 4.50 era it said and the guy only plays about 4% of the season.
Will fans be able to purchase deferred payment of tickets for the upcoming season? I’ll pay $5 now and pay the rest in 2035?
Yes, but you’ll have to pay $1 million in 2035 and every time you try to die beforehand, Decoy will be there to resuscitate you by licking your face.
It really does seem like they have a 200 man roster with all these signings.
But also Kershaw was definitely not ready to retire and was definitely going to continue to be a Dodger For Life.
Seems so, but when have great players ever known it was time to depart the stage?
It happens, but it doesn’t happen often.
How does Kershaw have so much audacity to turn down his player option? If I’m the Dodgers, I’m lowballing him a new contract because he rather be comfy in LA than settle down with another team. Kersh should have no leverage here.
He’d have no problem retiring. He’s almost worthless if the 4% of the time he’s healthy, he’s putting up 4.50 era’s anyway.
@dsett In 2023 he started 24 games with a 2.46 ERA. Jackson Merrill missed 6 games last season, does that mean he ll never play more than 156 games for the remainder of his career??
To form a conclusion based off of one season is asinine. The fact you point out he was injured and also address his stats yet you can’t see how the 2 could possibly be connected is laughable.
I’m saying at this point
So you re saying coming off injury you have no idea…..
Kersh did them a favor by not exercising his option. Do you understand any of this?
Kershaw needs leverage? Boy, talk about not getting it.
The team was going to need the roster flexibility & so he gifted it to them.
Class organizations that treat their players well get to reap fringe benefits like this, or Kíke basically ignoring all calls until the roster spot the team promised him opened up.
Wish players felt this way about MY Pobres …
Audacity? He did the Dodgers a favor and he’s not looking for leverage. And I’m thankful you arent running the Dodgers, they’d be crap under your “leadership”
How is he doing them a favor? Declining the option was a ploy to re-negotiate for a higher 2025 contract. Greedy and audacious. Let him retire.
@Reynaldo It opened up a spot on 40 man roster all off-season. It essentially allowed Dodgers to protect an extra player. The timing of his signing strongly supports this. Unless you believe they were at a stalemate in negotiations a d just suddenly happened to come to terms on a deal.
They can’t keep getting away with this!
Insert Sasaki starting the year in the minors in 3.2.1. Let’s go!
not likely
I’ll bet on that. I count 23 locks on that roster outside of sasaki.
good luck with that bet
$20 friendly?
Through PayPal?
I’m so game to find out if you are man.
Comes down to roster locks in the 26 for me I see 4/5 spots available max on sasaki. I want him up he’s ready, but I prefer him down in mine since control defaults in my league.
I think it’s much more realistic than a lot of people are speculating absolutely. And I think the durability are justified based on his concerns. Just takes one pitch for tj.
I don’t gamble nor do I need to prove anything about myself to you. I’m happy for you though knowing that $20 is the measure of your manhood.
Simply a friendly that’s all no harm in that.
Manhoods got nothing to do with it.
I’ll place a bet though sure absolutely. If morality prevents you from the sins of gambling by all means live long and prosper my dude. Do you ✌️
Not a morality thing. Knock yourself out. Gambling just isn’t my thing.
Just find the whole morality and man hood stances very interesting to someone opposed gambling
I don’t think there’s ANY likelihood of Sasaki starting the season in the minors. They may stash some players, but he won’t be one of them unless he gets injured in spring training.
same bet? Count the roster locks.
you have no clue bud. Sasaki is a roster lock.
Snell, Glasnow, Yamamoto, Sasaki, Gonsolin, May (6)
Banda, Treinen, Vesia, Kopech, Yates, Scott (6)
Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, T.Hernandez, Muncy, Smith, Edman, Conforto, Kim (9)
Rojas, E.Hernandez, Barnes, Taylor (4)
That’s 25. Phillips would have made 26 but he’s going on the IL so they will add one more pen arm. Probably one of Knack, Casparius, Grove.
Kershaw will be on IL to start season.
Try reading for comprehension. I am not opposed to YOU or anyone else gambling. I don’t gamble. There is a difference.
I’m not opposed to heroin or other hard drugs if someone chooses to kill themself that way. That’s their choice. But I don’t do drugs either.
No but you have a very interesting take on the compass of morality. Never would I question another users manhood or legal right of way they have defined in accordance with the law. Over a $20 friendly? Cmon it’s a no harm no foul bet to anyone that wants free money as you’re putting it. You choosing not to gamble is your business, but it is baseballs unfortunately.
Think it’s a fine line to be crossing publicly, but this is a public vs private forum. Touché at that.
I don’t think hot take isn’t without a ton of proof in the pudding.
Sasaki courted himself in his bidding basically seeing things from a developmental stand point. Which team all X’s and O’s Can do that for him. It’s the Dodgers.
He’s been advised of tj before the bidding war. One pitch changes that and If I’m the dodgers. This make not being seen in public outside of the pope mobile if that’s my investment.
Absolutely not diminishing the talent. Sasaki is a #2 today on 80% of teams staffs minimum.
The Dodgers don’t need him in April and may. But they do need him in September and October.
By no means is this an attack on his talent and your opinion. I appreciate a respectful debate, however when you make opinions personal on the internet that’s subjective both ways.
Kinda making my point on the numbers though. Sasaki doesn’t need to be defined by the 26 by mlb. And I think we both can agree there’s maybe 5 spots max available.
His talent is justified to be a lock. His contract and injury concerns make it very debatable on top of the depth to start season.
The other wrench here is the Japan game. He’s either going to start on or be injured.
You started the manhood thing bud.
“I’m so game to find out if you are man.” you said.
As to the rest of it, time will tell.
You took it the wrong way, but I can see your point. If I’ve offended over my communication. Absolutely not here to troll user base vs providing out the box perspectives on baseball.
Absolutely my condolences. And I apologize. Wasn’t meant to be a shot in that direction vs a hey let’s make a friendly. I do it all the time on small stuff like this.
I do hope he’s up. He deserves it and might be the best coming over in a decade if it all clicks. I think it will. Rooting for the guy absolutely. But there’s a ton behind this one too a lot of people are throwing under the bus because it’s well his talent level outright today and the dodgers.
San Diego/Toronto I’d say no questions he’s up. In LA I was 80/20 down prolly 70-30 on that today w the Japan game.
I’ll take that bet.
@top My emails itssievernich@gmail.com so we can keep contact on this bet man best of luck
No worries. All in the interest of getting through another pre-season day. 8 days until the first spring game. Hoorah.
It’s nuts 43 days baby! You going down to catch any? I’m in ny so no chance for me there. Still close enough to go to pnc if need be though. Just wish my money went skenes and not nutting.
So far I have tix in LA, Denver, Boston, Queens.
Too cold in Wrigley in April and its only 2 games, otherwise would do that too.
Traveling man nice I miss those days myself. Baseball is much more hobby this point in my life. I’m knee deep in online trading buying and selling these days. It’ll kill me I already know it but I love every minute of that world and wouldn’t change it for anything. Enjoy the games man. Baseballs a blast and why all live for it.
Probably like 1 year/$52M $1M signing bonus, $1M base salary and $50M deferred over 10 years.
At this point, no other team cares
With Kiki and Kersh now in their rightful place, its time to go after another title….LFG
What are the chances the Dodgers sign Alex Bregman on a 1yr deal?
Bregman signing with the Dodgers would be incredibly interesting considering their history…
They didnt give Soto a sniff, he’s just not worth Ohtani money. Bregman still viewed as a cheater in these parts. Dodgers have smart money…
Zero chance imo
Agree with Mech. Bergman is not going to LAD.
Kershaw is so close to 3000 strikeouts, hopefully he gets there this year.
He has made 300 million so far
So he could easily take a million dollar a year deal
Money should not be a factor in a sane world
When has professional sports ever been part of the sane world?
Someone needs to stand up and be a beacon of sanity !
Some of the comments here are, well, odd. He’s always been a Dodger. He and the team, believe he still has something contribute. He’s a 1st ballot HOFer. I don’t see the issue with any of this for either the player or the team?
I hope he can throw 120+ innings, maybe win another 8 games(and not lose 6!), and of course K another 30 odd batters so he can finish up with 220 wins AND less then 100 losses and of course the 3000+ K’s. Sure W and L aren’t the be all and end all, but geez going 220-97 for your career just looks kind of awesome….
Also, like Kershaw, the deferral “jokes” are getting a bit old…
@casualfan Reminds me of Tim Wakefield with the Red Sox, when Wakefield just signed a $4m contract every year when he could have gotten twice that elsewhere (okay, maybe he’s not the best comp for Kershaw’s arrangements with the Dodgers, though CK could have gone anywhere, any offseason until this one after he put in six years of service time).
Wakefield could have easily made more elsewhere during half a dozen of those offseasons, but he just wanted to pitch for Boston. Something kinda cool about that.
Fans are quick to forget that in 2018, Kershaw, at age 30, didnt opt-out and signed a $93M three-year extension to stay with the Dodgers. That was effectively a one-year extension since he had two more guaranteed years remaining. He could’ve doubled the $93M if he had opted-out and hit free agency. The Dodgers and Pepperidge farms remember.
Roster manipulation complete.
Wouldn’t surprise me if he just plays for free or they try to sign him as a player coach to get around the cap cost, but at this point, what does it matter?
While I hope Sasaki loses 20+ games for selling his soul to the devil, I hope Kershaw has a good year. Can’t fault a guy for being loyal to a team.
Yucki go play in traffic.
20 mill deferred
for 3 starts, 5 IL stints and forgotten by October
No matter how much you enjoyed getting that out of your system, us Dodgers fans enjoyed it more. Thank you for being you. I mean that with no sarcasm at all.
I wish more players would do what Kershaw has done. It’s so far for a player in any sport to stay with one team their entire career. I get it, money talks but sometimes loyalty trump’s money.
It’s a two way street though. Too often, teams don’t show any loyalty.
I thought that was kinda implied when I said money talks. Like current team offers a short term deal with low-ball money offer, new team offers 4x the term length and a lot more money. My point was I wish both sides ould have more loyalty
I have never been a Dodger fan since the days of Steve Garvey, Davy Lopes, Bill Russell and Ron Cey but I am always pulling for Clayton Kershaw and am glad he will finish his career with the Dodgers…it’s so rare for a player to play his entire career for one team and he has always done it with class and reminds me of Tony Gwynn…could have gone elsewhere and made more money but stayed loyal to the Brown and Gold and Kershaw has stayed loyal to Dodger Blue. I hope he hits whatever milestones are in front of him this season and looking forward to his 1st ballot selection to the Hall of Fame.
Tony was a treasure
Pobres didn’t deserve him
Suggesting that he would go to the Rangers is just idiotic.
“I don’t agree with that in the case of Kershaw. Players under contract to one team rarely talk about another. He lives 30 minutes from Globe Life Field in the offseason, seems like a big family guy, he’s tight with Chris Woodward, the Rangers have been in contact with him. The connection in this case is more than people just looking up where he’s from and speculating.”
mlbtraderumors.com/2022/02/mlb-trade-candidates-lu…
It’s still idiotic and proven by his re-signing with LA. Those are not reason enough to throw away being a one team HoFer AND being part of that amazing team.
Agree
He literally said publicly to the world in the fall that he was staying a Dodger for life.
And the irony is he didn’t have to say it. Everyone who was paying attention knew years ago he was a Dodger for life based on everything he said and did up to that point.
We all get the Dallas connection and coming back home to play for the Rangers, but there is also something special and sentimental about playing for the team that drafted you and being a Dodger for life. Also, while the Rangers have some talent the certainty of playing postseason baseball no doubt gives the Dodgers a big edge for many potential FAs.
Guys I know Kershaw was never going to sign with the Rangers I was mocking a comment someone else posted on here 3 years ago.
He opted out of 10 mil after making only 7 starts, -0.3 WAR, going into his age 37 season…
He was hurt at the end of 2023, tried to pitch through it. Had surgery for that, had some other things pop up. So they shut him down.
But that same 2023 he made 24 starts with a 2.46 ERA. The amount he’ll play for they’d be happy with 12-15 starts, maybe even just 10.
They are improving the quality of the MLB, any real sports fan would agree. Some people like you have nothing better to do than hide behind an anonymous website which is even more pathetic than trying to create a great team. Don’t get mad just because players want to play for the best.
Dodgers to re-sign Jackie Robinson!
Evan Phillips likely to open season on IL.
Do you think those players just placed on the IL had surgery just for fun
I’m completely shocked! I really thought he was going to sign with the White Sox.
Wait, then who do the Dodgers part with off their 90 man roster?
I’m guessing dodgers will be flip flopped from the dl to rotation throughout the season with bogus injuries to keep them on the roster and available for the playoffs. This will be interesting.
Of course. Dodgers have purchased all of MLB. Season over. Just give them the trophy now.
I truly thought Clayton would have signed with the White Soxs over the Dodgers!
Really hope he stays a Dodger until one side or the other decides it’s no longer viable… and then he retires.
Don’t want to see him in any other uniform.
probly his last yr in majors
1st ballot HOFer
Greedy, should have let him fester in FA and see whether he has the guts to join another team.
He already said he was staying a Dodger for life last fall.
So why turn down the player option and renegotiate a bigger deal?
Why wouldn’t he? If someone offers to give you more money, will you say, “No thanks, I’ll gladly take less.”
WTF?
Yeah, that is a little rich but Kershaw has taken much less in the past as he could have become a FA to earn a lot more money. Given his health these days I doubt he hits the full $16mm, and may not even come close to that unfortunately.
Hitting all the bonuses is $16M not $15M in case you want to edit that error in the article.
The math ain’t mathing- his bonuses can add up to $16M total, not $15M. This is an important detail. All global societal function depends on this correction.
This is like a blue sky beam and I am a random super hero, stopping it in time to set up a sequel.
Blue sky beam? Hope you have a blue roof!
Return of the King!
Kershaw is done. Can’t wait for my team to knock him around the park.
@Hex
Which team do you own?
His ERA will be substantial.