The Los Angeles Dodgers and star left-hander Clayton Kershaw have agreed to extend the deadline for his opt-out decision to 4 p.m. ET Friday, per a team announcement.
Kershaw had until midnight ET Wednesday to decide whether or not to opt out of the final two years and $65 million on his current contract and test free agency. The extended deadline may mean the sides are in the midst of negotiating a new agreement that would extend the 30-year-old's stay in Los Angeles well beyond 2020, something the Dodgers apparently have interest in doing, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network.
It’s been clear that Clayton Kershaw wants to stay with the Dodgers. It’s clearer now, with the extension of the deadline to opt out of his deal until 4 p.m. Friday, that the Dodgers want him, too. Something like a two-year extension on top of two option years seems likeliest.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 1, 2018
Under the terms of his current contract, Kershaw is set to earn $32 million next season and $33 million in 2020.
During spring training, Dodgers owner Mark Walter made it clear that re-signing Kershaw - who's spent his entire 11-year career in Los Angeles - was a priority for the team.
"He should be a Dodger for life," Walter said at the time.
Kershaw, who has won three Cy Young Awards and the 2014 NL MVP during his outstanding career, only made 26 starts this season due to a back injury, but still posted a 2.73 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 155 strikeouts over 161 1/3 innings.
Freese decision also pushed back
Late on Wednesday night, the Dodgers also announced that a decision on David Freese's future has been delayed and will also be made by Friday:
The Dodgers and David Freese have also agreed to extend the deadline on his option decision until Friday at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) November 1, 2018
Freese, who'll turn 36 in late April, played in only 19 regular-season games and 14 postseason games for the Dodgers after being acquired in an Aug. 31 trade from Pittsburgh, but the man can still clearly hit. He batted .385/.489/.641 in the regular season for L.A. and .364/.423/.773 in October.
The 2019 option's worth $6 million. If the Dodgers decline, they'll owe Freese $500,000.
