The Los Angeles Dodgers once again decided against extending a qualifying offer to Clayton Kershaw, who in turn quickly agreed to re-sign with the team on a one-year contract for the 2023 season.
Unlike last offseason when Kershaw needed multiple months — aided by the MLB lockout — to recover from a left forearm/elbow injury, he went into free agency this year healthy and with the intention to continue pitching next season.
Kershaw and the Dodgers agreed to a one-year contract hours after the deadline for players to be extended the $19.65 million qualifying offer for 2023.
According to Robert Murray of FanSided, the deal is worth $20 million, of which is a $5 million signing bonus:
Clayton Kershaw’s contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, per source: one-year, $20 million with a $5 million signing bonus.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) December 5, 2022
Coming off a strong 2022 season, Kershaw received a $3 million increase in salary from his previous one-year contract, and the value of the signing bonus doubled.
Kershaw’s newest contract with the Dodgers was delayed in being finalized due to logistics in taking his physical, but made official on Monday morning.
The left-hander went 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA, 2.57 FIP and 0.94 WHIP this past season, had the opportunity to start an MLB All-Star Game for the first time in his career, and also passed Don Sutton to become the all-time Dodgers strikeouts leader.
Clayton Kershaw salary history
While still eligible for a final year of salary arbitration, the Dodgers signed Kershaw to a seven-year, $215 million contract in January 2014 to make him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history at the time.
The deal included an opt-out clause after five seasons, which would allow Kershaw to become a free agent at the age of 30. However, that never came to be.
In November 2018, the Dodgers signed Kershaw to a three-year, $93 million contract extension. It replaced two years and $65 million remaining from his long-term contract.
When Kershaw did become a free agent after the 2021 season, he re-signed with the Dodgers on a one-year deal worth $17 million and with a $2.5 million signing bonus. That precedent held true again this offseason when Kershaw and the Dodgers agreed on another one-year pact.
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