3x Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw DECLINES player option from LA Dodgers, enters free agency

Clayton Kershaw has declined the player option from the Dodgers for the 2025 season and will enter free agency in the offseason.

3x Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw DECLINES player option from LA Dodgers, enters free agency

Clayton Kershaw (Image via LA Times)

On Monday, three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw declined a player option from the Los Angeles Dodgers. This means the 36-year-old is now a free agent and can sign with any team.

The veteran pitcher has been dealing with injuries in the past few years. This season, he spent most of the time on the sidelines and started just seven games after returning from an offseason shoulder surgery in July. In this, he went 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA and picked up 24 strikeouts.

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According to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times, if Kershaw had accepted the club option, he would have received a base salary of $5 million in 2025. This figure could have risen through bonuses.

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However, Kershaw is still heavily expected to re-sign with the Dodgers next year. During the team’s World Series victory parade on November 1, the 10-time MLB All-Star claimed that he will be back somehow next season.

This development regarding Kershaw comes after the Dodgers extended a $21.05 million qualifying offer for slugger Teoscar Hernandez. The 2024 Home Run Derby champion was visibly left emotional after the World Series win and insisted that he would do anything in his power to return.

Apart from him, the club has also exercised a $5 million option for infielder Miguel Rojas and a $3.5 million option for catcher Austin Barnes. However, the franchise has not extended any offer to one of their starting pitchers, Walker Buehler.

Clayton Kershaw declared himself a ‘Dodger for life’ at World Series victory parade

Clayton Kershaw has spent his entire MLB career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. During his tenure with the team, he has seen several highs and lows. At the Dodgers World Series victory parade, an emotional Kershaw declared himself a ‘Dodger for life’ after his successful tenure with the team.

Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw (Image via LA Times)

Amid the celebrations at the Dodger Stadium, Kershaw also claimed that he had been waiting for his moment for a long time. Despite winning the World Series in 2020, the Dodgers were unable to hold a victory parade due to COVID-19 restrictions.

I’ve waited for this day for a long time. I’ve waited to celebrate for a long time. I can’t imagine being anywhere else right now, and I can’t imagine doing it with a better group of guys than this group right here. I’m at a loss for words, but I didn’t have anything to do with this championship, but it feels like the best feeling in the world that I get to celebrate with you guys. Two-time champs and a lot more coming. Let’s go. I love you guys, thank you! Dodger for life!”

Clayton Kershaw said

Kershaw’s return in the 2025 season will give him another chance to reach the 3,000-strikeout club. The veteran southpaw currently has 2,968 strikeouts and will need 32 more to become just the 20th pitcher to enter the 3K strikeout club.