Kershaw should be 'a Dodger for life,' owner says
It remains unclear how much progress - if any - the Los Angeles Dodgers have made in contract discussions with Clayton Kershaw, who can opt out of his current deal following the 2018 season, but team owner Mark Walter made it known Saturday that he never wants the three-time Cy Young award winner to pull on another uniform.
"He's a Dodger," Walter told Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports. "He should be a Dodger for life."
He continued: "I couldn't possibly say anything that hasn’t been said about Clayton Kershaw – He's something special."
With his opt-out clause looming, the Dodgers have maintained an "open dialogue" with Kershaw, according to general manager Farhan Zaidi, who dubbed the seven-time All-Star "our franchise player" last month but wouldn't divulge whether substantive contract talks have taken place.
For his part, Kershaw reaffirmed Saturday his love for the Dodgers organization - the only one he's played for - but the 29-year-old also stressed he isn't focused on his contract as another Opening Day nears.
"I'm not thinking about it," Kershaw said.
If he doesn't opt out of his deal next winter, Kershaw - who signed a seven-year, $215-million extension ahead of the 2014 campaign, the biggest contract ever given to a pitcher at the time - will make roughly $34.5 million in 2019 and another $35.5 million the following season in the final year of his contract.
Selected seventh overall by the Dodgers in the 2006 draft, Kershaw has already cemented his status as one of the greatest starters in history, earning five National League ERA titles, three Cy Young awards (with another four top-five finishes), and an MVP award over a decade of unparalleled dominance. Last year, despite spending time on the disabled list for a second straight season, Kershaw still finished second in Cy Young voting, having managed 4.6 WAR while leading the NL in ERA (2.31), ERA+ (180), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.73) over 175 innings.
SP WAR leaders, 2008-2017
| Name | WAR | ERA | FIP | Cy Young awards | All-Star berths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton Kershaw | 58.0 | 2.36 | 2.60 | 3 | 7 |
| Justin Verlander | 50.3 | 3.41 | 3.34 | 1 | 5 |
| Zack Greinke | 47.2 | 3.12 | 3.14 | 1 | 4 |
| Max Scherzer | 43.7 | 3.30 | 3.25 | 3 | 5 |
| Felix Hernandez | 42.4 | 3.03 | 3.28 | 1 | 6 |
In less than four weeks, Kershaw will make his eighth consecutive Opening Day start for the Dodgers, a new franchise record.
"I realize how fortunate I am to be here," Kershaw said. "We'll see what happens at the end of the year."