Clayton Kershaw signs record setting extension

Clayton Kershaw has agreed to a 7 year $215 Million extension with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The $30.7 Million annual salary is the highest for any player ever. The overall value of the contract is the greatest for any pitcher. Kershaw must have really wanted to stay with the Dodgers because I am certain he would have been offered a 10 year contract for greater or equal average annual value.

Clayton Kershaw and Sandy Koufax

Kershaw has been the definition of masterful. In his first five full seasons Kershaw has a 2.43 ERA in 1072 innings pitched. That ERA is the lowest for any starting pitcher in the live ball ERA. If you include his rookie season his ERA goes up just to 2.60, still the lowest of all time for a starting pitcher.

The contract includes an opt out clause where he can become a free agent at age 30, but if he does not use that option, the contract will carry him through just his age 32 season. Kershaw may be looking at an even larger contract if he continues to put up monstrous numbers. In 2013 he put up the first season with a sub 2 ERA from a starting pitcher since Roger Clemens in 2005 and Pedro Martinez in 2000.

Kershaw has drawn comparisons to Sandy Koufax and is most definitely something special. Just imagine the contract Koufax would have been offered today.