Fansided

When will Clayton Kershaw not be worth $200 million?

By Brad Berreman

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 31: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in the second inning at Dodger Stadium on May 31, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 31: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in the second inning at Dodger Stadium on May 31, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Clayton Kershaw can join a free agent class deep with big names next offseason, but is he not worth what he once was?

The 2018-19 MLB free agent class is loaded with big names right now, with Bryce Harper and Manny Machado topping the list. Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw can opt-out of his deal after the season, and leave $65 million in base salary ($70 million, including portions of prorated signing bonus) on the table for the next two years.

Since starting his seven-year, $210 million deal in 2014, Kershaw has delivered a Cy Young Award (four top-five finishes in the voting), an MVP award and four All-Star selections. Postseason shortcomings aside, the Dodgers have been happy with the return they’ve gotten on the significant investment in their ace.

But Kershaw is currently on the disabled list with a back issue that’s expected to keep him out until July 1, which now gives him three straight seasons with a stint on the DL. A back issue has been the recurring theme to sideline Kershaw, and those issues (herniated disc, back “tightness” and a lower back strain this year) don’t magically go away.

Kershaw is hardly old at 30 years of age, and he has pretty much pitched to his elite standard over the last two-plus seasons in the midst of his back problems (2.12 ERA, 10.3 K/9, 1.3 BB.9 over 56 starts). But three seasons of the same physical breakdown is a huge red flag, and even with the injury-limited runs of the last two seasons Kershaw averaged 207 innings per season over the eight campaigns prior to this one.

Next: 5 possible landing spots for Noah Syndergaard

Kershaw would be better off not opting out of his contract after the season, and taking another potential run at free agency after his age-32 season in 2020. The Dodgers may willingly pony up $30-plus million per year again to keep him on a new deal, but a look beyond Kershaw’s name status shows a pitcher who can’t be counted on for 30-35 starts and 200-plus innings per year anymore.

Home/Los Angeles Dodgers