Clayton Kershaw declines $10,000,000 player option, joins free agent ranks from Dodgers alongside Teoscar Hernandez, Walker Buehler, Jack Flaherty
Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw has opted to head into free agency after declining a $10 million player option to stay with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The veteran pitcher joins a host of Dodgers players set to become free agents after winning the World Series, including Teoscar Hernandez, Walker Buehler and Jack Flaherty.
Clayton Kershaw has spent his entire 17-year MLB career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and has won two World Series titles with them, besides being named the National League MVP in 2014. He had signed a one-year $7.5 million deal with the Dodgers for 2024 with a player option for an extra year, but he had just seven starts in the regular season and was eventaully left out of the postseason roster.
On Monday, the MLB Players Association released a list containing all the players heading into the free agent pool unless they accept the qualifying offer from their teams. Clayton Kershaw is among nine Dodgers players on the list.
Meanwhile, Kershaw is set to undergo two surgeries on his leg this week. He will need surgery to repair the meniscus on his left knee and will have another to treat his injury on the left big toe that ended his season prematurely at the end of August.
Teoscar Hernandez, Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler to join Clayton Kershaw in free agency
The Los Angeles Dodgers could lose some key players who played a massive role during the regular season as well as in their triumphant postseason run to the World Series.
Teoscar Hernandez, Walker Buehler and Jack Flaherty are some of the notable Dodgers players heading into free agency, along with Clayton Kershaw.
Teoscar Hernandez had an outstanding campaign after joining the Dodgers on a one-year, $23.5 million deal at the start of the 2024 season. It was no surprise to see him decline the $21.5 million qualifying offer from the Dodgers, but he could be back in the team next season as a free agent.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers didn't extend a qualifying offer to right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler, who closed out the World Series just two days after winning his start. Fellow starting pitcher Jack Flaherty will also head into free agency after joining from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline.
However, the Dodgers took up the $4.5 million club option to keep veteran infielder Miguel Rojas. They also exercised the $3.5 million option to retain backup catcher Austin Hedges, who was the second-longest tenured player on their roster, behind Clayton Kershaw.