A Kershaw Contract Around the Corner?

I know I shouldn't jump the gun here, but I am feeling increasingly confident that an extension for Clayton Kershaw is about to come down the pike.

After all, we had heard numerous complaints from Kershaw's side last year about keeping a lid on public leaks.  They wanted to keep negotiations private, and it had appeared that undesirable leaks several months back put a damper on those discussions.

Now, word is filtering through well known Dodgers personnel that, I have to think, received approval from Kershaw.  Per a tweet from Bill Shaikin of the LA Times on twitter:

Kasten tells LA Times re Kershaw: "I am hopeful that, by the (arbitration filing) deadline Friday morning, we can work something out."
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) January 15, 2014

Heck, this acknowledgement from Kasten has to portent to a soon to be disclosed contract.  I do not believe for a second that Kasten would allow his name to be directly connected to a comment like this unless a deal is basically done.  A framework for a new contract must have already been agreed to, and all they are doing now is cross their 't's" and dot their "i's".

Per recent media reports, an extension may be as long as 10-years and as much as $30 Million per.  It has also been reported that there will be some sort of opt-out clause. 

Zack Greinke's Dodger contract signed last winter allows him to opt-out after three years.

I predict that we'll get word of a new deal on Friday, if not sooner.  Hopefully, I;m not putting a jinx on things, eh.

UPDATE:  Ramona Shelburne os ESPN has just tweeted the following:

The Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw have agreed on a seven year, $215 million contract, sources have told ESPN. Out after five
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) January 15, 2014

Wow!!!!  And here is Ramona's story at ESPN.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw have agreed on a seven-year, $215 million deal, sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPN.com.

Kershaw has an out clause after five years.

It is the richest deal in Major League Baseball history for a pitcher, eclipsing the seven-year, $180 million deal Detroit gave Justin Verlander last winter.

Above pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.

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