WooHoo! Reports Now Indicate that a Deal is Done - Kershaw Signs for 7 Years

It is now being reported, originally by Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, that the Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw have agreed on a new 7-year contract for $215,000,000.00. 

That comes out to a bit over $30.7 Million per season.  Based on his typical 33 starts a year, that's $930,736 per start.

Per 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.

So, what does his battery-mate have to say about it.  Via Bill Shaikin on twitter:

AJ Ellis on Kershaw: "He's the highest-paid pitcher of all time, and it still feels like he's underpaid."
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) January 15, 2014

Strangely, I kinda agree.  Kershaw  (knock on wood) may very well be one of the greatest pitchers to ever play the game. 

AJ Ellis had even more to say about Clayton on his twitter:

Big winner today......me. I am blessed to catch best in the game for foreseeable future God willing. Congrats Kersh!
— AJ Ellis (@AJEllis17) January 15, 2014

So, when will this become official.  Well, Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider has some news straight from the horses mouth.

Dodger President and CEO Stan Kasten on negotiations with Clayton Kershaw: “I am hopeful that by Friday morning we will have an announcement.”

I can't wait!

BTW, in celebration I made the above fantasy Baseball card of Clayton.  WOOHOO!

UPDATE: Jon Heyman of CBS breaks down the contract details on twitter:

2014: $22m ($18m signing bonus, $4m salary)
2015: $30m
2016: $32m
2017: $33m
2018: $33m
2019: $32m
2020: $33m

And, after the 2018 season, Clayton can opt-out of the contract (a 5-year opt-out clause).  So, if he does so, then the Dodgers would have effectively signed him to a 5-year, $150 million contract.  That averages out to $30 million per year.

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