Dodger pitcher Clayton Kershaw faces dilemma

LOS ANGELES - Future Hall of Fame pitcher Clayton Kershaw has declared himself a “Dodger for life.”

To be a Dodger in 2025, however, he and the team will have to work out a new contract, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Though Kershaw had a player option for around $5 million next season, according to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly, he declined it Monday, with the Major League Baseball Players Assn. listing him as a free agent.

While this marks the fourth straight offseason Kershaw will hit free agency, the veteran left-hander has already said he will pitch for the Dodgers next year — a change from the last three winters, when the Dallas native considered signing with the Texas Rangers.

So, to return to Los Angeles for an 18th MLB season, Kershaw and the team will now have to strike a new agreement instead.

Kershaw hinted he might not opt-in to his current deal following the Dodgers’ World Series parade and stadium rally on Friday, saying that he would “somehow” remain with the team, and that he didn’t care about the method.