Kershaw agrees to 7 years $215 million

[manchild98]

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw have agreed on a seven-year, $215 million deal, sources with knowledge of the situation said

Kershaw has an out clause after five years.

It is the richest deal for a pitcher in Major League Baseball history, eclipsing the seven-year, $180 million contract Detroit gave Justin Verlander last winter.

The 25-year-old Kershaw has won two of the last three National League Cy Young Awards and a Roberto Clemente award for his charitable work.

Kershaw and his wife, Ellen, founded an orphanage in the African nation of Zambia called Hope's Home that they visit every offseason. They co-wrote a book about their experiences last winter called, "Arise: Live Out Your Faith and Dreams on Whatever Field You Find Yourself."

Kershaw wasn't the only Dodgers player to enjoy news of the deal as catcher A.J. Ellis took to Twitter to congratulate the team's ace.

 

[turok]

So much for my fantasizing about the Tigers having a L/R punch in Verlander and Kershaw..haha!!

But given the Tigers brass tightening their purse strings this off-season, that pipe-dream has become more unlikely than ever...

Clayton being a lefty 2x Cy stud makes him more valuable than JV, apparently.

 

[Mitchrapp]

So much for my fantasizing about the Tigers having a L/R punch in Verlander and Kershaw..haha!!

But given the Tigers brass tightening their purse strings this off-season, that pipe-dream has become more unlikely than ever...

Clayton being a lefty 2x Cy stud makes him more valuable than JV, apparently.

That wasn't a pipe dream but lunacy. Did anyone actually think we'd get Kershaw. As far as the deal, being only 25 makes this a better deal.

 

[tomdalton22]

$30M a year for a pitcher. That's nuts!!!

 

[stonecold2136]

That makes Verlander's deal look like a steal. I wish DD would have extended Miggy using the Cano contract.

Oh well to late now. Gotta give miggy 30 million a year now

 

[tomdalton22]

That makes Verlander's deal look like a steal. I wish DD would have extended Miggy using the Cano contract.

Oh well to late now. Gotta give miggy 30 million a year now

I'd use him for the next 2 then let him walk. No way do I pay a 33 year old a 7-8 year extension at $210-$240M

 

[Mitchrapp]

I'd use him for the next 2 then let him walk. No way do I pay a 33 year old a 7-8 year extension at $210-$240M

I know they all want years but I'd give Miggy a 3 year extension. Right now. I'm sure he won't take it but it's fair..

 

[tomdalton22]

I know they all want years but I'd give Miggy a 3 year extension. Right now. I'm sure he won't take it but it's fair..

I think I would do that too. I really doubt he would take it though. His next contract will be his biggest and probably his last. He is going to want to get as much as he can.

 

[Mitchrapp]

I get they all want the biggest contracts but it's not like he doesn't have enough to support himself and all his loved ones the rest of their lives. Add in his endorsements and he's set.

 

[tomdalton22]

I get they all want the biggest contracts but it's not like he doesn't have enough to support himself and all his loved ones the rest of their lives. Add in his endorsements and he's set.

they all have enough money...but almost all of them want more! It is also an ego thing with them. I can't blame them either. If I was in position of Miggy I would get as much as I could too.

 

[kingofdetroit57]

If there's a pitcher in the game that's "worth it", it's gotta be Kershaw. He's a 2x Cy Young winning lefty who is only 25. I'd gladly pay him more than JV if I were the GM. Now, that still doesn't mean that I think the contract is reasonable for the job he does, but that's a whole different argument to have. Sports contracts are just their own unique kind of crazy.

 

[Rebbiv]

Kershaw is 5 years younger than Verlander and signed an extension at 25, versus Verlander's age of 29.

Away stats for the last 4 years prior to signing the extension:

Kershaw

wOBA .258 (1st in MLB)

WHIP 1.04 (1st in MLB)

FIP 2.78 (1st in MLB)

ERA 2.65 (1st in MLB)


Verlander

wOBA .287 (7th in MLB)

WHIP 1.14 (9th in MLB)

FIP 3.02 (2nd in MLB)

ERA 3.58 (20th in MLB)

Big difference in truly being the #1 pitcher in baseball at 25, or being a top 10 at 29.

Also, let's see how Cabrera is after groin surgery before we go giving him a contract extension.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Kershaw is 5 years younger than Verlander and signed an extension at 25, versus Verlander's age of 29.

Away stats for the last 4 years prior to signing the extension:

Kershaw

wOBA .258 (1st in MLB)

WHIP 1.04 (1st in MLB)

FIP 2.78 (1st in MLB)

ERA 2.65 (1st in MLB)


Verlander

wOBA .287 (7th in MLB)

WHIP 1.14 (9th in MLB)

FIP 3.02 (2nd in MLB)

ERA 3.58 (20th in MLB)

Big difference in truly being the #1 pitcher in baseball at 25, or being a top 10 at 29.

Also, let's see how Cabrera is after groin surgery before we go giving him a contract extension.

No question the age is a huge factor. The way mlb works JV got compensated at the going rate. As far as the numbers you posted Kershaw is still a NL pitcher. Might not change the fact he's the best but it's still valid..

 

[Rebbiv]

NL influence is less than a quarter of a run difference and very small change in WHIP.

 

[Rebbiv]

And for the record, LA Dodger pitched to an opposing pitcher 328 times in 152 games, or 2.16 PA per game. If a NL Pitcher has say 32 GS (non-interleague), than that is 69 PAs in a season he gets to face an opposing pitcher. The AL Starter will get about 2-3 starts in an NL park, and that is 4-6 PAs, for the grand total of 63-65 PAs for the season. Which isn't really much of a factor.

 

[Mitchrapp]

NL influence is less than a quarter of a run difference and very small change in WHIP.

I was more thinking Kershaw #1 in the NL, of course, and JV would probably drop to top 5 in the AL so it would seem closer..At least as far as his contract being worth it.

 

[Rebbiv]

I was more thinking Kershaw #1 in the NL, of course, and JV would probably drop to top 5 in the AL so it would seem closer..At least as far as his contract being worth it.

But Kershaw is just entering his prime and JV put up his numbers in the middle of his prime. That is still a huge difference, regardless of rankings.

 

[Mitchrapp]

But Kershaw is just entering his prime and JV put up his numbers in the middle of his prime. That is still a huge difference, regardless of rankings.

As I said it's no doubt Kershaw is worth his money more than JV is worth his, or it least makes more sense.

Regardless, JV is no slouch.

 

[Rebbiv]

Understood.

Now, my personal opinion is that only a select few would get a contract over 5 years. And with that contract, the value has to be there. I will sign someone to a 7 year contract if they give a "hometown" discount. I would sign Cabrera to a 7 year extension for say $175 Mil. No way I sign him to $210 Mil. Now, if he wants $30 Mil a year, fine, go 3-4 years with option and performance clasuses for anymore years.

 

[stonecold2136]

Kershaw is 5 years younger than Verlander and signed an extension at 25, versus Verlander's age of 29.

Away stats for the last 4 years prior to signing the extension:

Kershaw

wOBA .258 (1st in MLB)

WHIP 1.04 (1st in MLB)

FIP 2.78 (1st in MLB)

ERA 2.65 (1st in MLB)


Verlander

wOBA .287 (7th in MLB)

WHIP 1.14 (9th in MLB)

FIP 3.02 (2nd in MLB)

ERA 3.58 (20th in MLB)

Big difference in truly being the #1 pitcher in baseball at 25, or being a top 10 at 29.

Also, let's see how Cabrera is after groin surgery before we go giving him a contract extension.

If we lose Cabrera to free agency this franchise sinks like the Titanic. He might not want to sign an extension next year and has already stated he would be open to one this year. The time to sign him is now.

I sure as hell don't want to see him going to cooperstown with a Dodgers or a Yankees cap