The Los Angeles Dodgers and ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw have worked out a new deal which just happens to be the biggest new deal ever worked out in the entire history of Major League Baseball. It will also make Mr. Kershaw one of the richest young men in America.
After winning two Cy Young awards in 2011 & 2013, the Dodgers knew that Kershaw was not going to come cheap. They also knew that they had to have him if their plans for a pennant for the Dodgers organization were to have any real hope of coming true in the foreseeable future.
So the Dodgers and Kershaw have signed a record breaking deal which will make the 25 year old left hander the highest paid player in professional baseball. He will receive a whopping $215,000,000 for a seven-year contract with the Dodgers.
Such long term contracts, especially for pitchers, are not without their risks for the Dodgers, or any other baseball club. However, Dodgers President Stan Kasten told the press, “We know all the precedents, we know all the risks.”
Kasten then went on, “There’s been a lot of attention to this being the biggest contract for a pitcher in baseball. That is the case, and if someone should have that contract it should be the best pitcher in baseball and that is what we regard Clayton as.”
Of course the Los Angeles Dodgers organization was acting smartly by tying up Kershaw at this point before he became a free agent at the end of the 2014 baseball season. Top of the line MLB pitchers have been receiving high dollar contracts since the Detroit Tigers signed Justin Verlander for $180 million and Felix Hernandez for $175 million.
Although the Dodgers were reportedly willing to commit to an even longer contract with Kershaw, Clayton baulked at the plan saying, “For me personally, this is the longest amount I was comfortable with committing myself towards. I always want to be able to see the finish line. I think anything longer than this, I would feel overwhelmed to try and live up to those expectations.”
Of course the Dodgers, just like they did with Zack Genke, have taken out a large insurance policy on the new contract… just in case Clayton Kershaw is injured.
Kershaw, as ever, is confident about his new deal, “If your salary’s out there and you’re one of the highest-paid players in the game, you’re going to be expected to be one of the best players in the game. That’s fine with me.”
