The Los Angeles Dodgers declined to extend a qualifying offer to left-hander Clayton Kershaw prior to Sunday’s deadline.
The team did offer the one-year, $18.4 million offers to pending free agents Corey Seager and Chris Taylor.
Kershaw just completed a three-year, $93 million deal with the Dodgers. The 33-year-old team icon could end up becoming a free agent, or he could choose to negotiate a return to the franchise he has pitched for since 2008.
Complicating matters is that Kershaw suffered a left forearm injury in his final appearance of the regular season on Oct. 1 and missed the postseason. He also missed two months earlier in the season due to a forearm/elbow injury to the left arm.
Kershaw recently received an injection and is hopeful that the arm can heal without undergoing surgery.
If Kershaw leaves as a free agent, the Dodgers will not receive compensation because they didn’t extend the qualifying offer.
Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, is 185-84 with 2.49 ERA and 2,670 strikeouts in 379 appearances (376 starts) in 14 seasons with Los Angeles. The eight-time All-Star won the National League MVP and Cy Young honors in 2014.
Seager and Taylor have until Nov. 17 to accept the qualifying offers or opt to become free agents.
Seager, a shortstop, is in line to receive heavy interest if he becomes a free agent. The 27-year-old two-time All-Star has a .297 career average with 104 homers and 364 RBIs in 636 games over six-plus seasons with the Dodgers.
Taylor belted four homers during the recent postseason and is one of the more versatile players in the majors as he plays both the outfield and infield well. The 31-year-old Taylor, who was an All-Star this season, has batted .264 with 79 homers and 299 RBIs in 657 games in 5 1/2 seasons with Los Angeles after being acquired from the Seattle Mariners in 2016.
–Field Level Media