Clayton Kershaw Gets A Raise

The Los Angeles Dodgers and their longtime ace Clayton Kershaw had agreed on a one-year re-up almost a month ago, but today the details of the deal have been announced.

The details of Clayton Kershaw's 1-year contract with the Dodgers have come out. It's a $20M deal overall with $5M being a signing bonus.

per @ByRobertMurray pic.twitter.com/kECDCTRfmV

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) December 5, 2022

Kershaw will get $20M for the 2023 season, with a $15M salary and a $5M signing bonus. That's a $3M raise from his one-year, $17M contract for this past season.

The 15-year veteran and three-time Cy Young Award winner, who turns 35 during spring training, went 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA and a 137:23 strikeout-to-walk ratio this year. He was named to his 9th All-Star Game. 

A special message from Clayton. pic.twitter.com/CrIZTmATko

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) December 5, 2022

Kershaw's lifetime numbers are among the best in baseball over the last 100 years; his 2.48 ERA and 1.00 WHIP are tops among pitchers with at least 2,000 innings, while his batting average against is third all-time (.209). The only two with a better opponents' BA? Nolan Ryan and Sandy Koufax. That's some exclusive company. 

The Dodgers still have some work to do in their rotation for the coming season, however. Tyler Anderson left as a free agent, Andrew Heaney is currently still out on the open market, and co-ace Walker Buehler is out for likely all of the 2023 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Photo: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports