It won’t be a surprise if the Dodgers’ aggressive new ownership group looks to sign Clayton Kershaw to a long-term deal. However, those discussions haven’t taken place just yet. The left-hander told Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times that he and the Dodgers haven’t started discussing a contract extension.
“We’ll see,” Kershaw said. “I don’t have any expectations.”
The Dodgers are expected to discuss an extension before Spring Training begins next month, Hernandez writes. The Excel Sports Management client will earn $11MM in 2013 and is now on track to hit free agency following the 2014 season. He’ll go to arbitration one last time next offseason if the sides don’t agree to a multiyear deal before then.
Kershaw, the NL Cy Young winner in 2011, was the runner-up for the award this past season. He posted a 2.53 ERA with 9.1 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 227 2/3 innings in 2012, leading the NL in ERA for the second consecutive season. Hernandez reports that Kershaw has been throwing off a mound without being bothered by his hip.
Whoa dude, scary accurate