(09-05-2018 12:16 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  

(09-05-2018 08:59 AM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  If the Dodgers miss the playoffs the question becomes, will Kershaw opt out and if so, will the Dodgers bring him back? Since the break he's thrown 55.2 innings with an ERA of 1.94. Digging a bit deeper, it's almost as if he's reinventing himself. His Ks are down to pretty alarming levels (7.92 per 9), but his BB are at a beast mode .49 per 9. I doubt he'll keep up the .242 BABIP, but if the new command is real we could be looking at the Greg Maddux portion of his career.

I think the Kershaw question isn't connected to the playoffs. I think it's the market. During his last DL stint, the general thinking around here was that he couldn't opt out without losing money. Significant DL time in each of the last 3 seasons means so much risk. Now, he looks good but I think it's a coin flip if he looks good enough to earn a contract worth more than $35MM/yr over the next couple of years. If he finishes out the season strong, and maybe a couple of decent playoff starts? Opt out looks likely (and Dodgers go after him hard). If he throws a few stinkers, blows a playoff game, or gets injured again? No change.

You'd think he'd maybe get something like a 4 years 120 million deal which wouldn't be the 35 million a year- BUT it would get him 50 million more in years 3 and 4. If you're Kershaw, do you think that if you wait until after 2020 that he might not get 50 million for those next 2 years?