- Is Clayton Kershaw a $300 million man? – (SportsNetwork.com) - Is Clayton Kershaw a $300 million man?
According to a report, he almost was.
Kershaw turned down a contract offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this season worth around $300 million, ESPN.com reported Saturday.
According to the report, talks fell apart because the three-time All-Star and former NL Cy Young Award winner was hesitant to negotiate during the regular season and uncertain about committing to a deal so encompassing.
A long-term contract could still be worked out this winter, though it might be smaller in scope. Kershaw would donate a "significant portion" of the money to charity, according to the report.
The 25-year-old lefty, who made $11 million this past season, isn't eligible for free agency until after the 2014 season.
He is 51-23 with a 2.21 ERA and 709 strikeouts over the last three seasons, winning the Cy Young Award in 2011.
Kershaw suffered a rare shelling in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Friday, giving up seven runs in less than five innings. The Dodgers lost the game 9-0 and were eliminated by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Alex Rodriguez signed a $275 million, 10-year deal with the New York Yankees in 2007 that still ranks as the largest in MLB history.
But the Dodgers, under new ownership since last year, have been on a spending binge and appear ready to make Kershaw part of it with an deal that might take him past that number.
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