Now that the World Series has come to an end, longtime Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw has a big decision to make. Kershaw still has two years and $65 million remaining on his contract, but he has the ability to opt out and test free agency.
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The decision is obviously not an easy one for the 30-year-old, who was drafted by the Dodgers in the first round in 2006 and has spent all 11 of his Major League seasons with them.
“I know the future questions are obviously coming for myself,” Kershaw said after losing a decisive Game 5 of the World Series. “I don’t want to take away from tonight, obviously, and what everybody is feeling. I never want to put the focus just on me or anything like that. This was a tough one for us tonight, it really was.
“Myself, personally, you know, it was tough. David pitched a great game and I got outpitched and we lost the game. I’ve got three days now to think about all of that stuff before anything happens. And so it will be an eventful three days for me, and I’ll try to figure it out.”
The 2018 season was not Kershaw’s best as he was limited to 26 starts due to arm and back injuries. He also saw his velocity decrease, in some part due to the health issues he battled.
Kershaw still had a strong season by many standards though, going 9-5 with a 2.73 ERA, 3.19 FIP and 1.04 WHIP while striking out 155 and walking 29 in 161.1 innings.
Despite what is considered a down year for him, Kershaw may decide to opt out so he can sign a long-term contract and be a free agent now rather than waiting until he is 32-years-old. Kershaw maintained throughout the season his contractual status was not on the top of his mind.
Now it will be.
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